A longitudinal study of changes in ego identity status during the freshman year at college.

Abstract

Erikson described adolescence as the period of the life cycle when an individual's ego identity is most likely to undergo significant change. A longitudinal study involving 92 male college freshmen was conducted to assess the pattern of changes in ego identity status during the freshman year. Possible antecedent conditions associated with changes in status were also investigated. A positive developmental shift was observed for changes in identity status in the area of occupation while a retrogressive shift was found with regard to ideology. In addition, the hypotheses concerning psychological differences between individuals who changed their identity status and those that did not were supported. These differences involved personality characteristics which predated any of the observed changes in status.