IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT
Eva E. Skoe, Ph.D.
University of Oslo
Understanding of Ego Identity
Begins with Erik Erikson
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Erik H. Erikson (1904-1994)
Never knew biological father
Mother an artist
Invited by friend Peter Blos to
teach at Freud’s school in Vienna
Invited to be trained in analysis
Worked clinically with
World War II veterans
First used concept “Identity”
EGO IDENTITY CONCEPT
“What impressed me the most was the loss in
these men of a sense of identity. They knew
who they were, they had a personal identity.
But it was as if, subjectively their lives no longer
hung together--and never would again. There
was a central disturbance of what I then started
to call ego identity. …this sense of identity
provides the ability to experience one’s self as
something that has continuity and sameness
and to act accordingly.”
(Erikson, 1963, p. 42)
DIMENSIONS OF
EGO IDENTITY
• Biological
• Psychological
• Social
• Cultural – Historical - Economical
Erikson’s Identity-Defining
Arenas
• Vocational domains
• Ideological values
• Sexuality
Erikson’s Key Identity Concepts
• Identification
• Identity Formation Process
• Identity Achievement
• Identity Crisis
• Negative Identity
Negativ Identity
• ”a maladaptive identity resolution whereby an
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individual bases an identity on all the
identifications and roles presented to them in
their earlier development as being undesirable
or even dangerous” (Kroger, 2007, p. 11)
Erikson wrote about the daughter of an
influential southern preacher found among
narcotics addicts in Chicago, and about Martin
Luther becoming a munk instead of a lawyer.
Eriksons Utviklingsstadier
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Basic Trust & Mistrust
(Hope/Faith)
Autonomy & Shame & Doubt
(Will)
Initiative & Guilt
(Purpose)
Industry & Inferiority
(Competence)
Identity & Role Diffusion
(Fidelity)
Intimacy & Isolation
(Love)
Generativity & Stagnation
(Care)
Integrity & Despair
(Wisdom)
EPIGENSIS
Resolution to Identity Achievement
versus
Role Confusion
• “An optimal sense of identity . .. Is experienced
merely as a sense of psychosocial well-being.
• Its most obvious concomitants are a feeling of
being at home in one’s body, a sense of
‘knowing where one is going,’ and an inner
assuredness of anticipated recognition from
those who count.”
(Erikson, 1968, p. 165)
James Marcia
• Empirical Elaboration of
Erikson’s Identity Achievement
vs. Role Confusion Concept
EGO IDENTITY STATUS
(Marcia, 1980)
• IDENTITY ACHIEVED
Has gone through a period of exploration
of alternatives & has made well-defined
commitments.
• MORATORIUM
Is in the exploration period with
commitments only vaguely formed.
EGO IDENTITY STATUS
(Marcia, 1980)
• IDENTITY FORECLOSED
Has undergone no, or very little, exploration &
remains firmly committed to childhood-based
values.
• IDENTITY DIFFUSED
Whether having explored alternatives or not, is
uncommitted to any definite life directions.
EGO IDENTITY INTERVIEW
(Marcia, 1980)
• PROCESS VARIABLES:
exploration
committment
• CONTENT VARIABLES:
Occupation
Religion (or philosophy)
Politics
Sex roles
Sexuality
Criteria for Ego Identity Statuses
(Marcia,1966)
--Identity Achievement
--Moratorium
--Foreclosure
--Diffusion
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Identity Status
Position on
Achievement
Foreclosure
Diffusion
Moratorium
Occupation
__________________________________________________________________________
Exploration
Present
Absent
Present/
Absent
In process
Commitment
Present
Present
Absent
Vague
___________________________________________________________________
RESEARCH FINDINGS
PERSONALITY
• IDENTITY ACHIEVED
Internal locus of control, high ego development,
personal autonomy & self esteem.
Rational decision-making strategies.
• MORATORIUM
High in anxiety, denial,
projection & identification.
Openness to experience.
PERSONALITY
• FORECLOSURE
Authoritarianism, low levels of autonomy,
external locus of control.
Both genders strongly identify with their
father & mother.
• DIFFUSED
Low levels of: parent identification, self-esteem,
personal autonomy & ego development.
External locus of control. Shy.
FAMILY STYLES OF COMMUNICATION
• IDENTITY ACHIEVED
High perceived companionship,
physical affection & support of parents.
Parental fairness in discipline with
moderation in praise.
Parental encouragement of independence.
• MORATORIUM
High perceived companionship,
physical affection & support of parents.
Parental fairness in discipline with
moderation in praise.
Parental encouragement of independence.
FAMILY STYLES OF COMMUNICATION
• FORECLOSURE
High perceived companionship & support of parents.
Low parental encouragement of independence.
Parental over-controlling behaviors.
• DIFFUSED
High perceived parental rejection.
Low affection from parents.
Withdrawn or uninvolved behaviors from parents.
Identity & Intimacy
Issues of identity
must be fairly well
resolved before
genuine intimacy
is possible.
(Erikson, 1968)
The Intimacy Statuses
(Orlofsky, Marcia, & Lesser, 1973)
• INTIMATE
Close relationships with friends, enduring
committed relationship with partner.
Openness of communication, mutual affection,
respect for integrity of self & other.
• PRE-INTIMATE
Like intimate, but lacking
stable, committed partnership.
The Intimacy Statuses
(Orlofsky, Marcia, & Lesser, 1973)
• PSEUDOINTIMATE
Involved in superficial relationships,
often using people to get things for self.
• STEREOTYPED
Like pseudointimate,
but lacking stable, committed partnership.
• ISOLATE
No close relationships. Constricted life space.
The Intimacy Statuses
• MERGER (Committed)
Has established a long-term sexual relationship
with partner, enmeshment & dependency.
• MERGER (Uncommitted)
Not established a long-term sexual relationship
with a partner, friendships are characterized by
dependency & enmeshment.
Evaluation
•ERIKSON
•MARCIA