Definition
State where an individual has accepted their parent’s or authorities’ views and has not thought of other opinions or views.
Description
This is a phase or status outlined by James Marcia characterizing an avoidance of identity crisis by adhering to parental or authorities’ views or plans of the future. What is lacking is individual volition in investigating and exploring their own sense of identity and preferences in life. This lack of crisis and exploration leads the individual to commit to identities suggested to them by others. Example of a foreclosed identity: “My parents are physicians and always wanted me to be a physician also. I am enrolled in pre-med in college.”
Relevance to Childhood Development
Identity foreclosure is a commitment to something without personal exploration of self. This often results in delays of optimal psychological health and self esteem.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and crisis. New York: Norton.
Marcia, J. E. (1966). Development and validation of ego identity status. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 3, 551–558.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this entry
Cite this entry
Wooten, R. (2011). Identity Foreclosure. In: Goldstein, S., Naglieri, J.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_1442
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_1442
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-77579-1
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-79061-9
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science