The Four Stages of Identity Formation

Psychologist James Maszia suggests that we all have to go through these four stages of finally coming to our identity. These stages are foreclosure, diffusion, moratorium and achievement. An identity crisis might occur for individuals when we begin to grow disorientated with this established way of life due to some reason or some large shift like you graduate. This pushes us into the next stage of an identity crisis and ultimately the formation of a new identity.