Lecture 14: Identity

Question 1

What is the most useful and economical way to organize our personality judgements?

Answer 1

With the Big 5 taxonomy

Question 2

What do we need to know about a person to know them well?

Answer 2

The Big 5 traits that describe them and their motives

Question 3

Are the Big 3 motives correlated with the Big 5 traits?

Answer 3

No

Question 4

True or False

Big 3 motives cannot predict life outcomes.

Answer 4

False, the Big 3 motives can predict life outcomes.

Question 5

How much do people change in their personality over their life? In terms of the Big 5 traits?

Answer 5

The Big 5 traits of a person are stable. Remember that they are in part due to genetics. However, change is possible!

Question 6

How much do people change in their personality over their life?

In terms of the Big 3 motives?

Answer 6

The Big 3 motives are not as stable as the Big 5 traits.

Question 7

What is Erikson’s psychosocial stage theory?

Answer 7

8 Levels:

1. Trust
2. Autonomy
3. Initiative
4. Industry
5. Identity
6. Intimacy
7. Generativity
8. Integrity

Question 8

Given Erikson’s Psychosocial stages, what is stage 1 and when does it happen?

Answer 8

Stage 1 is Trust and it happens during the first year of life.

Question 9

Given Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages, what is stage 2, when does it happen and what does it mean?

Answer 9

Stage 2 is autonomy, it happens during the second year of life and it is when children start expressing autonomy in a controlled way.

Question 10

Given Erikson’s Psychosocial stages, what is stage 3, when does it happen?

Answer 10

Stage 3 is Initiative and it happens during 4 and 5 years of life

Question 11

Given Erikson’s Psychosocial Stage, what is stage 4, when does it happen and what does it mean?

Answer 11

Stage 4 is Industry, it happens during childhood to mid-adolescence and it is when children start comparing themselves to others. This is also their early academic years.

Question 12

Given Erikson’s Psychosocial stages, what is stage 5, when does it happen and what does it mean?

Answer 12

Stage 5 is identity. It happens during late adolescence and young adulthood. It is when individuals are answering the questions: “who am I”, “who will I become when I am an adult?”.

Question 13

Given Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages, what is the 6th stage, when does it happen?

Answer 13

The 6th stage is intimacy, it happens during young adulthood.

Question 14

Given Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages, what are the last two stages and when do they happen?

Answer 14

Generativity and Integrity. During midlife and old age.

Question 15

True or False

It is not normal for 17 years old to have identity crisis.

Answer 15

False,

it is common to have an identity crisis between 15 and 25 years old. Specially occupational crisis.

Question 16

What is the percentage of young people (15 to 25 years of age) who are not sure about their career trajectory?

Answer 16

25%

Question 17

What is identity according to McAdams?

Answer 17

“Identity is mainly about exploring and ultimately committing to specific life goals and values for the long haul. […] choosing what sort of career goals […] deciding the most important values in your life, […].

Question 18

According to James Marcia, what does identity formation consist of?

Answer 18

1. Exploration
2. Commitment

Question 19

Which ones are the two crucial areas of identity?

Answer 19

• Occupational goals
• Personal ideology
  
  • Religion
  • Politics

Question 20

How does Marcia categorize identity development in individuals?

Answer 20

1. Identity Diffusion
2. Foreclosure
3. Moratorium
4. Identity achievment

Question 21

What is identity diffusion?

Answer 21

• Not actively exploring and no commitment
• Alienated and isolated
• Distant from parent
• Apathy and Dysphoria

Question 22

What is Foreclosure?

Answer 22

• Committed without any exploration
• Goal-directed
• Very close to family
• Choose similar friends
• Confidence and sureness

Question 23

What is Moratorium?

Answer 23

• Actively exploring, no commitment
• Preoccupied and struggling
• Marked ambivalence toward parents
• Anxiety and doubt

Question 24

What is identity achievement?

Answer 24

• Committed
• Trust themselves
• Able to explain their choices
• View parents in a balancedway
• Reflective confidence

Question 25

How does Marcia see Foreclosure?

Answer 25

Marcia sees Foreclosure as an inadequate attempt to get an identity.

Question 26

Explain the study done by Marcia on self-esteem. What were the results?

Answer 26

• Self-esteem was measured before and after doing the concept formation task
• It was mentioned to the participants that the test relates to intelligence and success in school.
• They would give positive (better) or negative (worse) feedback “_____ than national norms”
• Results:
  
  • Participants in the diffusion and foreclosure categories showed a change in self-esteem
  • Participants in moratorium and achieve didn’t show a change in self-esteem

Question 27

What is Erikson’s take on intimacy?

Answer 27

“It is only after a reasonable sense of identity has been established that real intimacy with another person is possible.”

Question 28

What are the intimacy status categories?

Answer 28

• Isolate
  
  • lacks enduring personal relationships
• Stereotyped
  
  • Relationships lack depth
• Pre-intimate
  
  • Friends but no commitment
• intimate
  
  • Commitment and mutuality

Question 29

What percentage of people in a given identity category are in either Isolate/stereotype OR pre-intimate/intimate?

Answer 29

Question 30

Can personality traits affect identity development?

Answer 30

Yes, problematic personality traits may reflect developmental struggle

Question 31

What effect can culture have on identity?

Answer 31

Some cultures encourage or discourage people to explore identity