Which statement best differentiates identity diffusion from identity achievement in adolescence?

• A. Diffusion—no clear sense of self or commitments; achievement—resolved identity with commitments after exploration.
• B. Diffusion—strong commitments without exploration; achievement—no commitments.
• C. Diffusion—high self-esteem; achievement—low self-esteem.
• D. Diffusion—early stability; achievement—unstable.

Answer: (A)

In adolescence, the key distinction between diffusion and achievement is whether exploration has occurred and whether commitments exist. Diffusion describes someone who hasn’t actively explored different roles or beliefs and lacks clear commitments, so their sense of self feels unclear or diffuse. Identity achievement describes someone who has gone through exploration—considering various possibilities—and then formed firm commitments to certain values, goals, and roles, resulting in a resolved, stable sense of identity. So the best statement captures that diffusion is a lack of both exploration and commitments, while achievement involves a resolved identity with commitments after exploring possibilities. The other options don’t fit because they either misstate the presence of exploration or commitments, or they focus on unrelated factors like self-esteem or stability that aren’t the defining difference.