Question 1
The role confusion identity status refers to a phase where teenagers fail to define their role in society. It is often characterized by the identity question “Who am I” as teenagers try to decipher who they should be and what to think. During this phase, the adolescent exhibits a low level of exploration and commitment since these teenagers are yet to develop any meaningful life goals. Ideally, they are passively floating through life and handling issues as they arise. Their motivation at this state is hedonic, i.e., they are striving to avoid discomfort while at the same time acquiring pleasure along the way. An example is involving a teenager who struggled through high school and barely made it but still does not know his next steps in life. He has not applied to any college or higher education institution, and he is still working at a local convenience store, a job that he started in high school to obtain some extra cash to get by. Whenever his frustrated mother asks him what he is doing with his life, he is quick to respond that he does not know. Another example is that involving an adolescent girl who has dropped out of high school, is not working, and spends most of her time on social media platforms. She lives with her parents, and she is not planning to move out any time soon nor earn a decent living. To her, life is about living in the moment since the future will take care of itself.
Secondly, there is the foreclosure status, which is characterized by a high level of commitment but a low level of exploration. In this phase, the teenager is quick to accept society’s norms and beliefs without questioning them. An example is that involving a teenager who is applying to the same college her father and grandfather attended. He is following in their footsteps of becoming an elementary teacher even though he has no passion for teaching. Another scenario is that involving a teenager who is subscribing to radical cultural and religious practices such as fire walking and female genital mutilation without questioning their effects.
Thirdly, there is moratorium, which represents a low level of commitment but a high degree of exploration. In this stage, the teenager is undergoing an identity crisis where they are experimenting on different academic values and beliefs but are yet to settle on the beliefs and principles that will guide their path. An example is that involving an adolescent who is hesitant to accompany his parents to the local Christian church, but he prefers to read about other world religions, and he is planning to try them out. Another instance is that involving a minor who is questioning the concept of religion, but he is open to the fact that there exists a supreme being.
Question 2
The first type of love that I experienced is that of liking. This is a feature of true friendship where an individual feels warmth and bonded with another party but not intense passion. I felt this way towards my childhood friend Nick who we spend a lot of time together playing and generally exploring. Up until high school, we remained close, and he became my confidant, a shoulder to lean on when things got tough. However, our friendship came to a sudden halt when his family relocated to a different state, and it became continually hard to keep tabs. I still hold him in high regard since he helped in transforming my life for the better.
Another type of love that I have encountered is that of infatuation. This is the kind of love that is often felt at first sight but without the commitment component. I experienced this during my senior year of high school after seeing this beautiful girl during one of the school plays. Her blue eyes and well-sculptured face swept me completely off my feet, and I longed to meet her. One day, a gracious opportunity presented itself for us to meet, and this was when I realized that we did not have a lot of things in common, and we also did not subscribe to the same life ideologies. This was a mere obsession that diminished after some time.