Barriers to ego identity status formation: a contextual qualification of Marcia's identity status paradigm.

While many psychological, sociological and educational researchers acknowledge that ego identity formation is a socially embedded process, others have found that identity research often focuses, almost exclusively, on internal psychological development. The concept of "barriers" provides a means by which to describe external influences associated with adolescent and young adult ego identity exploration and commitment processes which affect and possibly limit individual developmental options. Based on Erikson's assumption that ego identity formation involves both personal growth and communal change, the barriers qualification expands upon Marica's identity status paradigm to more accurately reflect socio-cultural variables which may have impact upon individual internal psychological function. Copyright 2000 The Association for Professionals in Services for Adolescents.