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Identity diffusion is a concept coined by the German psychologist Erik Erikson and later expanded by the American psychologist James Marcia. It is a phase of personality development, which generally occurs in adolescence, in which the person does not explore or make decisions to find their identity.
what is identity
From birth and throughout life, each person goes through a process of identity development, a search for their true self, what makes them unique and distinguishes them from others. Identity is precisely the set of characteristics and traits of a person that differentiate it from others.
Identity, somehow, is a construction that takes years, but during adolescence is when it presents a greater development. The adolescent, in this stage of growth, explores alternatives and commits to some of them. In adolescence it is common for young people to experiment with social and affective relationships, ideologies, politics, religion, sexual orientation, and other aspects of life.
The diffusion of identity: contributions from Erik Erikson and James Marcia
Although over the years different psychologists and theorists, such as Sigmund Freud, have studied the process of identity formation, it was the psychologist Erik Erikson who, in the mid-20th century, made detailed contributions on the different phases it goes through. a person during the formation of their identity. He not only described each of these stages, but was also the originator of the current concepts of identity crisis and identity diffusion .
Erik Erikson and psychosocial theory
Erik Erikson (1902-1994) was a German psychoanalyst and theorist, based in the United States, who during his career became interested in the study of individual development, taking into account the importance of environment and cultural influences.
In his book The Child and Society , published in 1950, Erikson defined and detailed his psychosocial theory , also known as the theory of personality development, which includes eight stages that people go through throughout their lives, and each of they are associated with a particular period of a person’s life. However, the phases can last more or less time depending on each individual, their environment and her personal experiences.
Stages of personality development
Erikson named each stage with two opposite concepts, one positive and one negative that mark the extremes of development, according to the progress of the person in the search for their identity and the development of their personality. These stages are:
- Trust – mistrust: this phase covers approximately the first year and a half of a child’s life. It depends on the care of the parents, especially the mother.
Autonomy – shame and doubt : this stage occurs between one and a half and three years of age, and it is where the child begins to exercise his will and better control her body.
Initiative – guilt : it is a period that goes from three to five years. Here the child acquires greater motor control and begins to develop his imagination and his initiative, among other aspects.
Industriousness – inferiority:This phase occurs approximately between the ages of five and thirteen. The child begins the process of socialization with his peers in the educational field.
Identity search – identity diffusion : this stage generally occurs in adolescence, from thirteen years of age onwards and can reach adulthood. In it, the person begins to search for their identity through exploration and experimentation and the most important personality traits are forged, such as self-esteem and self-confidence. An identity crisis can occur, which is a period of self-doubt, anxiety, a feeling of emptiness, or a feeling of being lost or alone.
Privacy – isolation:this phase begins around the age of twenty-one and can last up to forty years of life. The individual has already established the foundations of his identity, knows who he is and has greater security.
Generativity – stagnation : includes the period from forty to sixty years. The individual focuses on parenting and productivity. Here the famous “midlife crisis” can occur, when the person feels that he has left his youth behind and reevaluates his achievements and his goals.
Integrity – Despair : This stage begins at age sixty and lasts until the person dies. Here doubts arise about one’s own usefulness, social distancing occurs, and concern about the end of life appears.
James Marcia and the States of Identity
Erik Erikson’s contributions served as a starting point for other studies in the area. In the 1960s, American psychologist James Marcia (1937-), specializing in developmental psychology, expanded Erikson’s research to focus on the psychosocial development of adolescents.
Based on numerous interviews with adolescents, he developed his theory of identity states. In it, he affirms that there are two main processes that contribute to the development of identity in adolescence: the period of elections or crisis and commitment. The first is a process of exploration: the adolescent experiences new alternatives, beliefs, occupations, or ideologies, and makes his personal choice. He can also examine her old choices and beliefs and try new ones. The second process deals with the adolescent’s commitment to the options she has chosen.
Identity states fall into four categories:
- Identity achievement : it is the state that the adolescent reaches once they have explored different alternatives and committed to an identity . She now has a clear idea of who she is, how she wants to be and what she wants to do in the future. This is the ideal and healthiest state on a psychological level.
- Exclusion of identity ( foreclosure ) : in this state, the adolescent committed to an identity excluding the period of exploration and experimentation. Usually, because she accepted the decisions of others. Later, this teenager may be a person who constantly seeks the approval of others.
- Moratorium ( moratorium ) – The adolescent in this category went through the scouting period but did not commit to any choice. Therefore, he is prone to suffering from anxiety and other psychological problems.
- Identity diffusion : in this state the adolescent does not explore or experience alternatives, nor does he commit himself . It is a period that is characterized by indecision and superficiality both in relationships and in the way of facing life.
Dynamics of identity states
Identity states are not fixed, but dynamic. Throughout adolescence, the person can move from one state to another and can also return to another previous state and reach the state of identity achievement later.
The state of identity diffusion is normal in adolescents. It’s a period that they usually go through naturally, trying to figure out who they are and what they want to do. Once they get over it, they begin to explore interests, perspectives and other views of the world, to later form a future vision of themselves.
The identity diffusion state can also occur in adults who have already reached the identity attainment state. Or the diffusion state can extend from adolescence to adulthood. In adults, this can happen after an identity crisis, caused by some major change in daily life, relationships or work. Also, it is possible that a person is in the identity diffusion state only in some aspects of life, such as religion, political or sexual orientation.
Transitions between the different states occur when there is an imbalance in identity. In fact, identity crises arise when the person had to face significant experiences, such as the death of a loved one or the loss of a job.
This can lead to a series of transitions, something known as the “MAMA” cycle, after the English names for identity states and their repetition: moratorium, achievement, moratorium, achievement . It has been described that at least three of these cycles occur in the life of each person.
What is identity diffusion
Taking into account previous knowledge, identity diffusion can be defined as the inability to form a concept of oneself or define oneself . That is, the absence of an identity of its own. It is a state in which the person has not yet chosen or committed to an identity. He does not explore his interests and ideals, does not accumulate experiences or choose a path to follow in the future. That is, it does not actively participate in the formation of his identity.
The state of identity diffusion can also be considered as a period of stagnation, where no decisions are made and no plans are made. The person also does not make an effort to find her identity, she lives in fear of the future and that paralyzes her and prevents her from making decisions. By failing to form a clear and realistic concept of himself, the person does not develop his interests or abilities and has trouble establishing lasting and deep relationships with other people.
Fortunately, the identity diffusion state is often a period that people go through and outgrow, moving on to the identity attainment state.
Difference Between Identity Crisis and Identity Diffusion
It is important to note that the concepts of identity crisis and identity diffusion are not the same. Although both are usually temporary periods and are part of a person’s growth and development, they differ from each other.
The identity crisis usually has a shorter duration and can appear at any time in life. It is also a period of reflection and reassessment that the person performs in order to find their identity. On the other hand, the diffusion of identity is usually associated with adolescence or youth. In this state, the person does not attempt to search for her identity. In addition, this period can extend several years.
Characteristics of people in the identity diffusion state
People in the identity diffusion state are distinguished by the following characteristics:
- They don’t make decisions.
- They do not make commitments.
- They are passive.
- They don’t make long-term plans.
- They have low self-esteem.
- They have less autonomy.
- They feel isolated and withdraw from the world.
- They believe that others do not understand them.
- They live on illusions.
- They have no purpose in life.
- They show no interest in other people or activities.
- Others perceive them as apathetic and lazy people.
- They seem to be adrift, aimlessly.
Consequences of the diffusion of identity
Due to the negative connotations of several of the characteristics of people in the identity diffusion state, they may be subject to increased pressure from friends, family and the workplace. Also, they can be affected by low self-esteem and different psychological problems derived from this lack and the lack of their own identity. By failing to make decisions or plan for the future, people in the identity diffusion state tend to experience anxiety, stress, and even depression. Also, by not feeling understood and withdrawing, they may have problems with their social life and the way they bond with other people.
Another consequence of identity diffusion can be the choice of a negative identity, such as the rejection of accepted social roles and norms, in the absence of a positive identity.
Examples of identity diffusion
Although each adolescent can go through the state of identity diffusion in a different way, there are examples that are often observed in family, friends or other close people. A common example is the adolescent who, instead of going out with her friends, stays at her house, does not participate in other activities or establish deep relationships. She has no interest in doing anything and prefers to sleep all day. When it comes to choosing a career or looking for a job, she is indecisive, or changes careers or jobs several times.
Another example can be an adult who does not study or work and depends on his family, or works and earns enough money to survive, but for years does not progress and continues to live with his parents.
Bibliography
- Santiago, J. Psychology for Beginners: An Introduction to Basic Psychology . (2019). Spain. Justin Santiago.
- Gil de Prado, R. What is the diffusion of identity? Psychopedia.org. Available here .
- Kernberg, O. (2007). Identity: recent findings and clinical implications . International Journal of Psychoanalysis on the Internet. Available here .
- Feldman, R. (2007) . Identity: who am I? Psychological development (pp. 424-447). Mexico. Person. Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos. Available here .
