Psychosocial theories examine the important issues people face as their lives progress (Evans, Forney, Patton, Renn, Guido, & Quaye, 2016, p. 287). They began with a clinical psychologist, Erik Erikson, and his research in the 1960's. The research on which Erikson's Identity Development Theory is grounded has its limitations; his study was exclusively composed of white men and did not include women. Eager to explain why some women resolve their identity crisis while others avoid creating an identity or fail to overcome crisis, Ruthellen Josselson explored the internal and developmental differences of identity formation in women and identified four statuses of how women react to crisis and commit to their personal identity (Evans, Forney, Patton, Renn, Guido, & Quaye, 2016, p. 288). Josselson based her theory on James Marcia's framework who based his work on the fifth stage of Erikson's Identity Development Theory: identity versus identity diffusion.
I have always had a strong self as a teenager and do not recall going through an extended period of identity confusion. Identity confusion, however, became evident throughout my undergraduate years. I went through a period where I experienced identity diffusion, developed a sense of identity, lost it, then developed a new …show more content…
The choice to abandon my Criminology and Forensic Psychology degree to focus on my true passion for Student Affairs was less of a challenge and more of relief; I had finally found my calling. I faced the pressure of my family, my recruiter, and my mentors as they questioned my motives. Nevertheless, I decided to pursue my passion even with limited support. I was passed the stage of letting others' opinions strongly impact my career
I have always had a strong self as a teenager and do not recall going through an extended period of identity confusion. Identity confusion, however, became evident throughout my undergraduate years. I went through a period where I experienced identity diffusion, developed a sense of identity, lost it, then developed a new …show more content…
The choice to abandon my Criminology and Forensic Psychology degree to focus on my true passion for Student Affairs was less of a challenge and more of relief; I had finally found my calling. I faced the pressure of my family, my recruiter, and my mentors as they questioned my motives. Nevertheless, I decided to pursue my passion even with limited support. I was passed the stage of letting others' opinions strongly impact my career