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Handbook of Identity Theory and Research pp 31–53Cite as

The Identity Statuses: Origins, Meanings, and Interpretations

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Abstract

This chapter describes the origins and development of the identity statuses and provides a brief overview of studies into antecedent, concurrent, and consequent implications of the construct. In so doing, it reviews selected personality, relational, behavioral, and developmental variables that have been examined in relation to the identity statuses over the past 45 years. Additionally, the chapter addresses some of the many implications that the identity statuses hold for intervention as well as the relationship of the identity status paradigm to other models of identity. The rootedness of the identity statuses in Erikson’s concept of identity versus identity diffusion (confusion) is discussed, and meta-analyses of the identity statuses in relation to selected variables are presented. Therapeutic and educational interventions for individuals in each identity status are also discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway

    Jane Kroger

  2. Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada

    James E. Marcia

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  1. Jane Kroger
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  2. James E. Marcia
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Correspondence to Jane Kroger .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Public He, University of Miami, N.W. 10th Avenue, Suite 321 1425, Miami, 33136, Florida, USA

    Seth J. Schwartz

  2. , Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, Leuven, 3000, Belgium

    Koen Luyckx

  3. School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QH, United Kingdom

    Vivian L. Vignoles

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Kroger, J., Marcia, J.E. (2011). The Identity Statuses: Origins, Meanings, and Interpretations. In: Schwartz, S., Luyckx, K., Vignoles, V. (eds) Handbook of Identity Theory and Research. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7988-9_2

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