James Marcia

James E. Marcia is a clinical and developmental psychologist. He previously taught at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada and the State University of New York at Buffalo in Upstate New York.

He is also active in clinical private practice, clinical psychology supervision, community consultation, and international clinical-developmental research and teaching.

Marcia completed his PhD at the Ohio State University. Marcia completed his B.A. at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio

Dr. James Marcia is the father of two sons from first wife Catherine Kayuha Marcia (deceased 2009). His first son, Sean Michael Marcia died at age 15 from an automobile accident, and his second son, Adam Joseph Marcia, age 50, is a Thematic Language Arts Teacher at University School in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Adam is married to Nicole Lee Ciancibello Marcia with 3 sons, Adam Jr., Alexander, Anthony. Dr. Marcia has one daughter, Nicole, age 46-a yoga therapist instructor, from second wife Dr. Marcia Jacobs a sociologist in Vancouver, British Columbia. Dr. James Marcia and current wife, Dr. Janet Strayer PHD Psychology live in Vancouver, BC.

Marcia is perhaps best known for his extensive research and writings on psychological development, with specific attention focused on adolescent psychosocial development and lifespan identity development. Erik H. Erikson had suggested that the normative conflict occurring in adolescence is the opposition between identity achievement and identity confusion. Marcia elaborated on Erikson’s proposal in a citation classic by suggesting this stage consists neither of identity resolution nor identity confusion as Erikson claimed, but is better understood as the extent to which one has both explored and committed to an identity in a variety of life domains including politics, occupation, religion, intimate relationships, friendships, and gender roles. 'Two crucial areas in which the adolescent must make such commitments are ideology and occupation'.

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