[6] Identity is often described as finite and consisting of separate and distinct parts (e.g., family, cultural, personal, professional).
Erikson stated that this crisis is resolved with identity achievement, the point at which an individual has extensively considered various goals and values, accepting some and rejecting others, and understands who they are as a unique person.
[8] When an adolescent attains identity achievement, they are ready to enter the next stage of Erikson's theory, Intimacy versus Isolation, where they will form strong friendships and a sense of companionship with others.
In Marcia's theory, identity is operationally defined as whether an individual has explored various alternatives and made firm commitments to an occupation, religion, sexual orientation, and a set of political values.
He believes this phase of life includes a broad range of opportunities for identity formation, specifically in three different realms.
Components of the self-concept include physical, psychological, and social attributes, which can be influenced by the individual's attitudes, habits, beliefs, and ideas; they cannot be condensed into the general concepts of self-image or self-esteem.
On the other hand, knowledge of the position introduces a new path of less effort to the trainee, which prolongs the effects of training and promotes a stronger self-concept.
[citation needed] Other forms of identity setting in an organization include Business Cards, Specific Benefits by Role, and Task Forwarding.
Ethnic groups are also often united by common cultural, behavioral, linguistic, ritualistic, or religious traits.
Cultural identity adheres to location, gender, race, history, nationality, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and ethnicity.
Religious identity refers to the personal practices related to communal faith along with rituals and communication stemming from such conviction.
Gender identity may be affected by a variety of social structures, including the person's ethnic group, employment status, religion or irreligion, and family.
Political identities often form the basis of public claims and mobilization of material and other resources for collective action.
According to Charles Tilly, the interpretation of our relationship to others ("stories") create the rationale and construct of political identity.
The capacity for action is constrained by material resources and sometimes perceptions that can be manipulated by using communication strategies that support the creation of illusory ties.
[37] Morgan and Korobov performed a study in order to analyze the influence of same-sex friendships in the development of one's identity.
[38] This study involved the use of 24 same-sex college student friendship triads, consisting of 12 males and 12 females, with a total of 72 participants.
Semi-structured group interviews took place, where the students were asked to reflect on stories and experiences concerning relationship problems.
The results concluded that adolescents actively construct their identities through common themes of conversation between same-sex friendships; in this case, involving relationship issues.
The common themes of conversation that close peers seem to engage in helping to further their identity formation in life.
When adolescents are able to think abstractly and reason logically, they have an easier time exploring and contemplating possible identities.
The changing sociocultural situation is forcing individuals to develop a unique identity based on their own aspirations.
For example, when there is a solid and positive relationship between parents and adolescents, they are more likely to feel freedom in exploring identity options for themselves.
On the Internet, youth talk about their lives and concerns, design the content that they make available to others, and assess the reactions of others to it in the form of optimized and electronically mediated social approval.
Text taken from Youth and changing realities: rethinking secondary education in Latin America, 44-45, López, Néstor; Opertti, Renato; Vargas Tamez, Carlos, UNESCO.