No, I'm not referring to your mother. I'm referring to the words underlying the acronym MAMA - Moratorium Achievement Moratorium Achievement. Let me take a step back. How do individuals develop their sense of identity in life? When do they develop their own sense of personal identity? Is identity fixed or is it a fluid concept? While there are many psychological theories that aim to explain identity development in humans, today I will only be discussing the work by psychologist James Marcia. His thesis is that identity is a result of the dialectical interplay between exploration and commitment. In life, we explore the various options the world offers us. Once we have made a decision, we commit to it. In so doing, our decision gets intertwined with our identity. However, this is not the end of the story. Often, we have other personal aspirations, interests, side projects or even a ......