These adolescents typically procrastinate and avoid dealing with their problems. Those in a state of foreclosure have not yet explored alternatives concerning goals but have nevertheless made decisions about them. Adolescents that have achieved identity status have finished a period of active exploration and have made commitments concerning their goals. They have experienced moratorium and progressed through it. Research has found that for both males and females, the identity achievement status is associated with good adaptive capabilities whereas the identity diffusion status is often associated with difficulties in coping.
Sex differences do however, appear in moratorium status.
Many studies have been conducted on personality development in twins. Monozygotic and dizygotic twins as well as full siblings from never divorced families were interviewed and videotaped twice in their homes, approximately two weeks apart. Upon interviewing, researchers found that a large portion of pairs do not experience similar environments, even though they reside in the same household. Fifty-seven percent of monozygotic twins attended the same school until they entered college. In this study, object relations and self-esteem were also measured.