Marcia's Identity Status Theory

Marcia's Identity Status Theory describes how people develop their sense of who they are through two processes: exploration and commitment. Exploration involves questioning and trying out different roles or beliefs, while commitment means making decisions about your values, career, or identity. Based on these, Marcia identified four "statuses": 1. Identity Diffusion (no exploration or commitment), 2. Identity Foreclosure (commitment without exploration), 3. Identity Moratorium (exploration without full commitment), 4. Identity Achievement (exploration followed by a firm commitment). This helps understand how individuals shape their personal identity over time.