Identity Diffusion
A state common among younger or noncommittal older adolescents who are not actively trying to find themselves or make life choices.
Foreclosure
Occurs when an individual makes a commitment to an identity, values, or goals without considering any alternatives
Moratorium
A period where an individual is actively exploring different alternatives and roles but has not yet made a definitive choice.
Identity Achievement
The point at which an individual has explored various alternatives and has become committed to specific choices.
Agency
The desire for and exercise of control over one’s own behavior and life choices.
Autonomy
The developmental push for independence during adolescence.
Coming Out
The process of accepting and revealing one’s gender identity and/or sexual orientation to others.
Delinquency
Criminal activity during adolescence.
Ethnic Identity
A sense of belonging to an ethnic group, which often develops through stages: unexamined ethnic identity, ethnic identity search, and achieved ethnic identity.
Cultural Socialization
The process by which parents and caregivers teach children about their heritage, including history, customs, norms, and responsibilities.
