Self and Identity in Late Adolescence

Abstract

This study sought to provide a theoretical and empirical integration of the recent work in the psychoanalytic study of the self with the literature on the identity formation process in late adolescence. The general hypothesis of this study was that greater levels of self-cohesion would be predictive of an adaptive resolution of the identity formation process. Measures of self-cohesion (goal instability and superiority) and ego identity status (the diffusion, moratorium, foreclosure, and identity-achieved statuses) were administered to 254 college students from a large northeastern state university. A canonical correlation analysis revealed that goal directedness and4 to a somewhat lesser extent, a reliance on less grandiose means of self-expression were generally related to the identity achieved status; some notable gender differences were also observed. The authors relate results of this study to further directions in theory and research on adolescent development.