Within the discipline of psychology, identity foreclosure is defined as the phenomenon in which individuals adopt an identity and set of values without prior exploration of alternatives. More specifically, foreclosure occurs in adolescence, when individuals make an earlier than average commitment to roles, values, and goals that are primarily determined by parents and social structures. This blockage of self-discovery may result in confusion in adulthood when the adopted identity does not genuinely fit the individual. Example: A teenager embarking on the path of becoming a physician purely on the basis of parental expectation, without exploring any other options, illustrates identity foreclosure.
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