Learning about Yourself:
How Identity can Impact College
Identity PowerPoint #2
Traditional age college students just out of high
school are often challenged by new ideas, beliefs,
and life styles. Considering change with so many
options is even more challenging.
Let’s Start with a Review
Academic
and Careers
Felicia
D.M.
Just what
mom and dad
would want
Values
Life Style
Just like mom Just like mom
and dad want
and dad
Not focused
Independent Just like mom
on, or worried
and searching
and dad
about, the
future.
How are they different ? How are they similar ?
How will they change as they get older in college?
Which comes first … what are the consequences?
Felicia and Daniel Mark
are about to enter
college. They are in a
stage of development
that will impact their
success. They each
face issues in :
adults in
AchievementYoung
college move
& Career
through this
process from
Foreclosure to
Diffusion to
Moratorium to
Values
Life Style
Achievement
in Careers,
Values, and
Lifestyle
In college classes we use a lot of jargon.
The theory we will talk about today labels
these 4 categories as: Foreclosure,
Diffusion, Moratorium, and Achievement.
Foreclosure Diffusion
Livin’ at
Home
Oh Well
Just what
mom and
dad want
Who
Cares ?
Felicia
Daniel Mark
Just like
mom and
dad
Who
Cares ?
Felicia
Just like
mom and
dad
Felicia & DM
Moratorium
Achievement
Dazed &
Confused
Taken the
Next Step
Independent
Explored &
Chosen a
Career
& Searching
Independent
& Searching
Challenged
their values
& decided
Daniel Mark
Who
Cares ?
Independent
& Searching
Considered
options &
decided
College Courses Study Theories
Here are a couple theories you to help you understand YOU !
Erikson’s 8 Psychosocial Stages
1. Trust vs. Mistrust
Infants
2. Autonomy vs. Doubt
Toddlers
3. Initiative vs. Guilt
Pre-School
4. Industry vs. Inferiority
Elementary Students
5. Identity vs. Role Confusion High school & College
6. Intimacy vs. Isolation
Adults
7. Generativity vs. Stagnation
Old guys
8. Integrity vs. Despair
Very Old Guys
If you are less than 25 it is VERY likely you are in
Identity vs. Role Confusion
Erikson’s Stage for Adolescence & Young Adults
Identity vs. Role Confusion
Students in this stage are trying to discover who they are, what
they believe, and what their life will be like after college. This often
involves indecision, confusion, mood swings, and anxiety.
College students ask “Who am I?”
This is not an easy question to answer and can preoccupy their
thinking. It is not unusual for students to question themselves and
change their minds about their major, their boy/girl friend, and even
the basic values they have always held (for example religion).
They are looking for answers to 3 questions:

What vocation should I pursue? What about my major?

What will my future life style be? Should I get married?

What is important in life and how do I decide right and wrong?
James Marcia – Identity Formation
Identity Foreclosure
– Early commitment without
exploring options. They are following what they have always been told.
Felicia entered college in Foreclosure in Academics, Values, and Lifestyle.
D.M. entered college in Foreclosure in Lifestyle
No commitment, no exploration, and
often not particularly interested in doing “the responsible thing.” This
Identity Diffusion
often includes an avoidance of decision making about the future. They
often seem to not really care (“Oh, well!”)
D.M. entered college in Diffusion in Academics and Careers
Moratorium – Actively considering options.
This is a stage of
exploration and considering possibilities which causes anxiety and
indecision. Students question the past and the future. They question
past advice and decisions and worry about what the future holds.
D.M. entered college in Moratorium in Values.
Identity Achievement – After exploring options you
identify you vocational goals, your own values and morals, and life style.
Very few traditional age college students are in Achievement
but many older college students are in Achievement in all areas.
James Marcia – Identity Formation
Commitment & Crises/Exploration
COMMMITMENT
C
R
I
S
E
S
N
O
NO
YES
Diffusion
Foreclosure
No commitment and have
never really explored any
options about careers,
values, or lifestyle.
Committed to careers, values,
and lifestyles without any
exploration of alternatives. Often
commitments were decide long ago.
Moratorium
Identity
Achievement
and
E
X
P
L
O
R
E
Y
E
S
Haven’t made a firm
commitment to a career, values,
or lifestyle but they are
considering options.
This takes a long time and a lot
of exploring of options.
What stage is most Problematic ?
 In your small Learning Communities discuss which
stage of Identity is most likely to cause problems for
college students and why?
 Use examples from your Potential Problem Students
and discuss the problems of:
 Foreclosure
 Diffusion
 Moratorium
 Think in terms of Vital Behaviors for college success
(attendance, assignments, engagement in class) and which of
these behaviors might cause serious problems.
What is your Stage of Identity?
Interviewing your “Team”
Foreclosure
Careers &
Academic
Values &
Morals
Lifestyle
Diffusion
Moratorium
Achievement
Have you
always
wanted to be a
certain
occupation?
Are you serious
about college or
primarily here to
have fun?
Do you change
your mind about
careers and
majors? Do you
care but get
confused?
Have you
consider many
occupations and
feel confident
with you choice?
Have you ever
considered
other values?
Do you spend
time considering
values in the
decisions you
make?
Do you find
yourself thinking
about new values
and ideas and
considering
other positions?
Have you
considered many
options in your
values? Are you
open to listening
to differences?
Have you ever
consider any
other
relationship?
Are you ready to
make a
commitment or
just playing the
field?
Are you
considering
changing your
mind about your
future
relationships?
Have you given
careful thought
to what you want
in a relationship
in the future?
In your small Learning Community, interview each person after they explain which
stage they are in (Foreclosure, Diffusion, Moratorium, or Achievement) for Careers,
Values, and Lifestyle. You job is to CHALLENGE them with questions.
Achievement
&
Careers
How would they Study ?
Foreclosure
Diffusion
Moratorium
Achievement
Trying to get
a good grade
for mom &
dad?
No
Motivation
to Study?
Motivation
problems
and getting
started?
Very
motivated
but unsure of
how to study
In your Learning Community discuss how students in Foreclosure,
Diffusion, Moratorium, and Achievement might prepare for a test.
What might the differences be in:
• Their motivation to do well on a test?
• How they manage their time?
• How much time they spend study for the test and when they start ?
• How many questions they ask in class?
Academic Majors Fair
On Friday September 24th there will be an Academic
Majors Fair in the Student Activities Center. You will
have the opportunity to talk to professors in almost
every major offered at IU South Bend. Bring your
Academic & Career questions along and help yourself
resolve your indecision, confusion, anxiety, and maybe
even pick a major and career.
Put this on your calendar !