Longitudinal study of changes in ego identity status from the freshman to the senior year at college.

Conducted ego identity status interviews with 53 male college seniors who had participated in a previous study of identity development during the freshman year. As hypothesized, significant increases in the frequency of students in the identity achiever status were observed for both occupational and ideological identity. Also as predicted, the achiever status was found to be the most stable status from the end of the freshman year to the senior year, while the moratorium status was the least stable. While the general developmental trend was positive, a substantial proportion of the Ss were completing their college years in the identity diffusion status. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A canonical analysis of career choice crystallization and vocational maturity.

Whereas career development theory has proposed that the crystallization of career choices occurs as individuals resolve relevant career development tasks, the supporting empirical evidence has been inconclusive. To develop a clearer understanding of the nature of the career decision-making process, this study assessed the degree to which career choice crystallization is associated with vocationally mature attitudes, behavior, and knowledge. Measures of vocational maturity and career choice crystallization (which was defined by measures of career decidedness and commitment to career choice) were administered to 158 community college students (mean age?=?21.35). A canonical analysis was employed to identify the relationships between age, gender, career choice crystallization, and vocational maturity. The analysis yielded one significant canonical root, which indicated that most of the shared variance between these two sets of variables was contributed by the relationship between the career planning component of vocational maturity and the two career choice crystallization scales. These findings were related to theory, research, and practice in career development. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relation between ego identity statuses and decision-making styles.

We examined the proposition that individual variations in career decision making are related conceptually to the identity formation process of late adolescence. To investigate this proposition 2 studies were conducted to identify the relations between ego identity statuses and decision-making styles. The findings suggested that persons who have achieved a stable identity tend to use rational and systematic decision-making strategies. Those whose identity status is foreclosed tend to rely on dependent strategies and do not endorse systematic and internal strategies. Persons in the diffusion status tend to rely on intuitive and dependent styles or exhibit an absence of systematic and internal styles. The moratorium status was not consistently associated with variations in decision-making styles. We relate the results to previous theory and to implications for practice and research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Identity development, career development, and psychological separation from parents: Similarities and differences between men and women.

This study examined the differential nature of relations between degree of identity development (Moratorium and Achieved identity statuses) and career and psychological separation variables for men (n?=?129) and women (n?=?118). Career development variables predicted degree of identity exploration (Moratorium identity status) and identity commitment (Achieved identity status) for both genders. For men, conflictual independence from parents predicted degree of identity exploration, and emotional independence predicted degree of identity commitment, negatively and incrementally. For women, attitudinal independence predicted degree of identity commitment, negatively and incrementally. Suggestions regarding counseling and career counseling are given. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sex differences in styles of occupational identity formation in late adolescence.

Administered to 41 male and 42 female high school juniors and seniors an interview assessing identity status and questionnaires measuring vocational identity, social desirability, masculinity/femininity, and achievement motivation. On 2 identity measures, males and females had progressed equal distances toward the achievement of an occupational identity. However, for young men, vocational identity was positively related to masculinity and orientations toward mastery and lack of concern about the negative evaluations of others. On the identity interview, occupational exploration was related to femininity, and occupational commitment was related to masculinity and mastery. For young women, vocational identity was positively related to masculinity and an orientation toward hard work; vocational identity was negatively related to competitiveness. Over 40% of the Ss were identity achievers, exhibiting high levels of occupational exploration and commitment. Identity formation in the late high school years is discussed in terms of a relative equilibrium before the transition marked by leaving home. (35 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cross-sectional age changes in ego identity status during adolescence.

Cross-sectional age changes in ego identity status during adolescence were investigated in 25 males in each of 5 age groups (12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 yrs). Each S was administered the Marcia Identity Status Interview, extended to include questions about avocation and, for the older Ss, attitudes toward premarital sex. Significant increases were found in occupational commitment and crisis, religious crisis, political commitment and crisis, and sexual crisis. On overall identity status, there were large increases with age in the number of Ss in the achievement status and decreases in the number of Ss in the foreclosure and diffusion statuses. Contrary to expectation, sexual attitudes appeared to be related to identity formation for this sample. (7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Identity and fear of success.

Investigated the relation between ego identity and fear of success in 53 female and 49 male college students (aged 21–41 yrs). Two measures of identity were used—the Ego Identity Scale (EIS) was administered to all 102 Ss, and J. E. Marcia's (see record 1966-07584-001) interview for identity status was administered to 44 of the 102 Ss. All Ss also completed a people-knowing questionnaire (PKQ), used to measure fear of success, and an occupational questionnaire designed to gather information concerning work-related behaviors and attitudes. A significant correlation was observed between EIS and PKQ scores. Those classified as identity achieved and foreclosed were found to have lower PKQ scores than those classified as moratorium and diffusion. Significant correlations of PKQ and identity scores with the work-related items were also observed. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ego identity, social anxiety, social support, and self-concealment in lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals.

This study examined a model in which the relationship between social anxiety and two dimensions of ego identity (commitment and exploration) was expected to be mediated by social support and self-concealment for a sample of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals (N=347). Statistically significant paths were found from social anxiety to social support and self-concealment. Statistically significant paths were also found from social support to commitment, exploration, and self-concealment. There were no significant paths from social anxiety to commitment or exploration. Structural equation analyses and bootstrap procedures revealed support for the potential mediational role of social support in the association between social anxiety and the two dimensions of ego identity as well as in the link between social anxiety and self-concealment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Involvement of the 5'' proximal coding sequences of hepatitis C virus with internal initiation of viral translation

To examine patterns of identity development for late adolescents raised in the Norwegian mixed liberal welfare-state economic system compared with late adolescents raised in the free-market economic system of the United States, ego identity status scores and distributions were examined for 56 (37 women, 19 men). Norwegian and 1498 (814 women, 684 men) United States undergraduate university students using the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status-2. The United States sample was drawn from four geographic regions and comprised of those who had participated in prior studies performed by Adams. Significant differences were found between the two nations on all identity status subscales in the ideological and interpersonal domains for each sex. The more moderate identity status scale scores evidenced by the Norwegian sample may reflect a cultural trend toward greater moderation in the exploration and commitment process.     

The transition to young adulthood: generational boundary dissolution and female identity development

This research explored links between differential qualities of family connectedness and young adult females' development of an independent identity. Identity development involves exploration of possible roles and choices in particular domains such as occupation, dating, and friendship, followed by commitment to a set of values and behaviors in one of these areas. In this study, women who reported that their parents encouraged autonomy while still maintaining closeness also reported more exploration in their friendship and dating relationships. In contrast, reports of parent-child boundary dissolution, characterized by role-reversal, enmeshment, and overinvolvement, were related to less exploration, particularly in dating relationships. Mother-daughter boundary dissolution, specifically, was linked to women's tendency to base their commitments to a career and relationships with others on parental values and expectations without ever exploring alternative choices. Father-daughter boundary dissolution was related to lower exploration as well as lower commitment to values and beliefs in any area. These findings lend support to theoretical and clinical impressions that intergenerational boundary violations hinder the development of an independent identity.     

Relationships between career indecision subtypes and ego identity development.

Four cluster groups of career-undecided college students (N?=?423) were formed from Career Factors Inventory scores. Career decision groups were compared across Erikson's first 5 stages of ego identity development as measured by the Ego Development Scale (R. Ochse & C. Plug, 1986). It was predicted that career decision groups would differ in level of ego identity resolution, with groups that experienced the most indecision reporting the least successful resolution. Using profile analysis, overall profile parallelism, level, and shape were examined, and comparisons of career decision groups within the substages were made. Results indicated that the 4 career decision groups differed in their degree of successful identity resolution in the predicted direction. Results are related to career interventions and treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Examining racial identity statuses as predictors of psychological defenses in African American college students.

The authors examined the relationship between racial identity statuses and the use of psychological defenses in 80 African American college students who completed the Black Racial Identity Attitude Scale (J. E. Helms & T. A. Parham, 1996), Defense Mechanism Inventory (G. C. Gleser & D. Ihilevich, 1969), and the Defense Style Questionnaire—40 (G. Andrews, M. Singh, & M. Bond, 1993). The canonical analysis indicated that pre-encounter and encounter ego statuses were positively related to neurotic psychological defenses as well as defenses of principalization and reversal. The immersion ego status was positively related to immature psychological defenses as well as turning against object and projection. The emersion ego status was positively related to mature psychological defenses as well as turning against object and projection. The authors believe these results provide additional support for J. E. Helms's (1995) racial identity model, because racial identity ego statuses predicted how African Americans managed painful affect. The discussion also focuses on implications of these results for counseling and future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Occupational attainment as a function of abilities and interests: A longitudinal analysis using Project TALENT data.

Ability, interest, gender, and family socioeconomic status of 13,248 tenth-grade participants in Project TALENT were studied as they relate to occupational attainment by using discriminant analysis. Individuals were classified into 12 broad categories reported 11 years after graduation. Accuracy analyses indicated correct classifications significantly above chance for all except the Technical and Sales categories. Within-category classification percentages were higher for all groups except Construction. Five canonical discriminant functions that jointly accounted for 96.8% of the between-groups variance were interpreted. The first 2 accounted for 81.9% of the variance. Function 1 was a general ability function; Function 2 differentiated the categories on the basis of mathematics ability and gender. Functions 3 through 5 accounted for 14.9% of the between-groups variance. Some implications of these findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Identity development, parental and peer support in adolescence: results of a national Dutch survey

The aims of this study were to examine the development and structure of identity throughout adolescence, and the influence of parents and peers on identity development. A representative sample of Dutch adolescents, aged 12 to 14, completed the Utrecht-Groningen Identity Development Scale (U-GIDS). This instrument encompasses separate scales for commitment in exploration for relational, school, and occupational identity. The results show that relational identity becomes consistently stronger as adolescents grow older. Less consistent developmental trends were found for school identity, and no developmental trends for occupational identity. A different identity structure was found in different groups of adolescents. For girls the relational identity is much more important than school or occupational identity. The same difference was found in adolescents aged 21 to 24 vs. their younger peers. Identity development is mostly influenced by peers, with parents having only an additive positive influence.     

Identity development from adolescence to adulthood: An extension of theory and a review of research.

Examines, in the light of research findings, those aspects of E. H. Erickson's (1963, 1968) theory of psychosocial development that concern the formation of a sense of personal identity. When the Stage 5 component is considered as a bipolar dimension, the expectation is that the transition from adolescence to adulthood involves a progressive strengthening in the sense of identity. When the identity construct is expanded to include the processes by which an identity is formed, it is hypothesized that identity status will change from the identity diffusion status to the foreclosure and then the moratorium status, and from the moratorium to the identity achievement status. The circumstances associated with these changes, regressive changes, and reentry into an identity crisis are discussed. The review of the literature deals with the direction and timing of identity development, sex differences in development, and the identification of antecedent conditions relating to the choice of development pathways. (2 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychosocial development and stressful life events among religious professionals.

Within the framework of the theory of adult male psychosocial development outlined by D. J. Levinson et al (1978), the present study explored the relationship between ego identity, commitment age, and recent life change stress among 272 27–34 yr old Roman Catholic religious professional men. Instruments included the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Rotter's Internal–External Locus of Control Scale, and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. A religious life experience survey was developed to measure recent life-change stress. As predicted, Ss with higher levels of ego identity characterized recent life change less negatively; those with lower levels judged it to be more noxious. Commitment age was not related to the percentage of recent life changes characterized as negative or to ego identity level. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that ego identity contributed modestly but significantly to the percentage of recent life change characterized as negative. Findings indicate that a well-developed identity structure is both a stable frame of reference and a mediator of stressful life events, and that a poorly developed sense of identity is more closely related to Ss rating recent life change events as having a negative impact on their lives. (57 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comparison of identity and intimacy statuses in college students and alumni.

Previous research has shown that empirical tests of E. H. Erikson's (1963) psychosocial theory have yielded limited information on development after the college years. In the present study, the effect of college graduation on the identity and intimacy crises of 93 college seniors and 66 24–27 yr old alumni from the same university was studied. College graduation was regarded as a life transition that would stimulate growth in the areas of identity and intimacy. It was hypothesized that more alumni than students would be located in the more mature statuses. Ss were given measures of identity status and intimacy status. Four areas of identity were rated: achievement, moratorium, foreclosed, and diffuse. Intimacy status was rated in terms of the categories of intimate, merger, pre-intimate, pseudo-intimate, and stereotyped and isolated. Findings show that in all areas, alumni were in the identity achievement status more frequently than were college students, who, in turn, were more frequently foreclosed. Differences in the other 2 identity statuses varied by identity area. Alumni were more frequently in the intimacy statuses of intimate and merger, whereas more students were rated as preintimate or low in intimacy. Intimacy was related to identity status only for alumni. Results support the hypothesis and suggest greater commitment on identity than intimacy for students. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationship of socioeconomic status to logical and sociomoral judgment of middle-aged men.

Empirical links between socioeconomic status (SES) and logical and sociomoral judgment were studied. Logical judgment was measured with adaptations of the pendulum and correlations tasks devised by B. Inhelder and J. Piaget (1958); sociomoral judgment was scored with the standard Kohlberg interview. Measures of SES were status of family of origin and S's educational attainment and occupational prestige. In a sample of 83 middle-aged men, the 3 measures of SES accounted for 25% and 12% of the variance in logical and sociomoral judgment, respectively. Adult occupational prestige accounted for 6% of the variance in logical judgment beyond that explained by family status and education, suggesting that adult cognitive functioning may be related to occupational placement, occupational experience, or both. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relation between ego identity and temporal perspective.

In an attempt to expand the ego identity concept of J. E. Marcia (1975) to include the area of temporal perspective, 80 male undergraduates were administered a time line developed by the present 1st author. Temporal density (percentage of experiences in each of 5 time zones), temporal extension (chronological time spans for the past, future, and overall), and perceived duration (line length for each of 5 time zones) were measured, and an identity status interview was rated with a 4-status classification system (diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, and identity achievement). Findings show significant differences between identity groups with regard to the proportional allocation both of experiences (i.e., density) and of linear space (i.e., perceived duration) among the time zones. The achievement and foreclosure groups generally scored higher on measures of futurity than did the diffusion and moratorium groups. Results point toward the crucial importance of the contextual framework in interpreting findings regarding temporal perspective. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Factors related to vocational identity after extensive work experience.

Studied the nature of vocational identity after extensive work experience using J. E. Marcia's (see record 1966-07584-001) 4-category classification system for ego identity. 55 adult males (recruited through their undergraduate sons) were interviewed concerning identity status, education, and the use of intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation in career selection. The most frequent identity status was foreclosure, followed in order by identity diffusion and identity achievement. Achievers had obtained the most education, while diffusions had the least. The reported use of intrinsic factors in career selection was most characteristic of achievers, while the majority of foreclosures and all diffusions indicated the use of extrinsic factors. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)