AP Psychology Practice Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The focus on the stages adolescents go through while seeking an identity is most accurately attributed to Marcia, who expanded on Erik Erikson's theory of identity development. Marcia proposed a framework that includes four identity statuses—identity diffusion, identity foreclosure, identity moratorium, and identity achievement. These statuses reflect different ways in which adolescents manage the challenge of forming their identities.

While Erikson did address identity in his psychosocial development stages, particularly in the stage of "Identity vs. Role Confusion," it is Marcia who provided a more detailed analysis of the specific processes and choices involved during adolescence as individuals explore different roles and commitments. Kohlberg's work centers around moral development, and Piaget is known for his contributions to cognitive development, making their frameworks less relevant to the specific question regarding identity formation in adolescents.