4 Stages of Ego Development

     1. What is the fundamental process of selfhood, according to Loevinger?

This is a general process by which each of us synthesizes or puts together our experience as our own (McAdams, 2009).

     2. From what paradigm does Loevinger’s model come?

It comes from the cognitive developmental paradigm in personality psychology (McAdams, 2009).

     3. Which assessment test is used to measure Loevinger’s ego stages?

The assessment test is the Washington University Sentence Completion Test for Ego Development (WUSCTED).

     4. Name and define the four statuses defined by Marcia.

(1) Identity achievement defines one who has explored identity options and subsequently made identity commitments (McAdams, 2009). (2) Moratorium defines one who is currently exploring identity options but has not yet made commitments (McAdams, 2009). (3) Foreclosure defines one who did not explore options but made commitments to childhood or conventional modes of being (McAdams, 2009). (4) Diffusion defines one who has not explored options and has not yet made commitments (McAdams, 2009).

     5. The capacity to cope adequately with the conflicts of the individualistic level occurs at which stage? (Loevinger)

This occurs at the autonomous (I-5) stage of ego development.

     6. Why is Loevinger’s assessment not given to young children/infants?

Loevinger’s assessment is not given to young children/infants because Loevinger’s method of assessment does not enable her to measure the development of the ego in the earliest years (McAdams, 2009).

     7. At which Loevinger stage of ego development does the ego develop a greater tolerance for the individuality of others and greater awareness of the conflict between heightened individuality and increased emotional dependence?

This occurs at the individualistic (I-4/5) stage of ego development.

     8. When elderly people reflect upon the past in order to settle accounts, what are they undertaking? (Erikson)

Erikson described it as integrity and Butler agreed and said it was a life review.

     9. According to Loevinger, the self of early child is locked in what stage?

The self of early childhood is locked in an impulsive (I-2) stage (McAdams, 2009).

     10. Which Loevinger stage of ego development emerges with the capacity to cope adequately with the conflicts of the individualistic level?

This capacity to cope adequately occurs at the autonomous (I-5) stage of ego development.

     11. In which Loevinger stage does the child move from an egocentric frame of reference to an identification of one’s own welfare with that of a group?

This move from an egocentric frame of reference to an identification of one’s own welfare with that of a group occurs in the conformist (I-3) stage.

      12. At which of Loevinger’s stages does the individual have an appreciation of the worlds’ rules?

An appreciation of the worlds’ rules occurs in the self-protective (delta) stage of ego development.

Reference

McAdams, D. P. (2009). The person: A new introduction to personality psychology. (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.