Part 1: Introductory Section

A.) The purpose of this study is to discover the development of identities in the late 20’s to conduct research about a phenomenon that is developing identities after identity commitments. This study is to provide an explanation as to why adults in their late twenties approach changing life conditions.

B.

C. c. The three related research questions mentioned in this article are

1. 1. What patterns of identity status change and stability may be seen in the late twenties?

2. 2. How do the identity narratives of individuals with established identity commitments and stable identity statues develop overtime?

3. 3. How is the identity development of individuals repeatedly assigned to identity achievement different from that of individuals repeatedly assigned to foreclosure?

Part 2: Method

a. a. The Gothenburg Longitudinal study of development used a population of 144 1 to 2-yearold children. 75% of the families agreed to participate. These families came from a variety of different backgrounds. As a result, there were a total of 124 participants who participated in the process of research. The participants were recruited from the waiting lists for public child care in different areas of Gothenburg.

b. b. The data collected for this study was done most at the University of Gothenburg. At both age 25 to 29, participants were contacted by telephone to schedule an interview at the University. At age 25, 12 participants were interviewed at their homes and 2 in hotel lobbies. At age 29, 6participants were interviewed at another Swedish University, 5 were interviewed in her workplace, and 6 participants who were unable to meet were interviewed over skype or the telephone.

c. c. They used different forms of interview such as the “background interview”. The background interview consists of questions about the individual’s romantic relationships, living situations, education, and current occupation. Another form of interview was the “ego identity status interview”. This interview, developed by Marcia, was performed with the participants both at age 25 and age 29. Participants were assigned to one of four identity statuses for each domain: identity achievement, foreclosure, moratorium, or identity diffusion. At age 25, the interviews were performed by a middle-aged psychologist and two female master students in clinical psychology. The interview for age 29 was performed by a female doctoral student and two female master students in clinical psychology. The identity status coding was made by the interviewer who met with the participant.

d. d. The method used in this research is an experimental. Through these interviews, performed by experts, participants were interviewed at different ages in order to determine and identify cause-and-effect relationships. These interviews are processes in which requires two or more groups. The longitudinal analysis of each participant’s results allowed researchers to draw conclusions.

Part 3 Results and Discussion

A.The main results obtained from this study have been broken up into three parts. The first section is an analysis of stability and change in identity statuses between age 25 and 29. The second section contains a model of how young people with established accomplishments maintain and develop their identities between the age 25 and 29. The third section is a description of the patterns of identity development for those participants with established commitments. The third section also shows their connection to the identity statuses of identity achievement and foreclosure.

Stability and change in identity statuses between age 25 and 29. The McNemar tests results showed that there was no major difference in how common any of the identity statuses were between the 29 and 25 year old participants. Half of the participants (n=63, 50.8%) had the same identity status at age 25, and 29. (n=30, 24.2%) This group changed identity status in a progressive direction. The last half (n=31, 25.0%) changed in a regressive direction. Two unusual change in identity status occurred. It was extremely abnormal to move from identity achievement to identity diffusion, to identity diffusion to identity achievement. Once the participants were on a certain track, they remained on that same path. Therefore the patterns that were shown weren’t considered unusual because they all displayed stability in identity status.

The analysis of Identity Development among individuals with an established sense of identity resulted in a three dimensioned model. These dimensions concern aspects of development between two endpoints. Dimension 1 identifies the participants’ reaction and approach to life’s inevitable changes. The weak endpoint for this dimension is showing an unwillingness to adjust to various life changes. The deep endpoint of dimension 1 represents the ability to adjust to inevitable change. Dimension 2 identifies any newly added elements to their lives at age 29 in comparison to age 25. Participants who usually reported short interviews at both ages were on the weak side of the endpoint. Whereas, the participants who were extremely reflective and open during both interviews at age 29, and 25 were found on the deep endpoint. Dimension 3 concerns the participants’ development of personal life direction between the two interview occasions. This dimension describes changes in the participants’ description of how they make decisions of how they want to live their lives. The weakening endpoint of the dimension represents how some of the participants developed personal life goals based on social norms and the expectation of others. The deepening endpoint of this dimension displays development and increasing life goals between the two interview occasions.

The last section, Individual Patterns of Identity Development after establishment of commitments displays the various patterns of development across the three dimensions. Depending on where each participant was placed in each section (Weakening end or deepening end) they were assigned identity achievement or foreclosure. Alice, who’s results showed continuous positive adjustment to life changing situations, an increase in meaning making elements in several identity domains, and an positively increased development of a personal life direction. Because Alice was coded to the deepening endpoint in all three dimensions, she was assigned to identity achievement at both ages 25 and 29.

Mattias, due to his incoherence between his identity narrative and life situations, a limited increase in meaning making in the identity domains concerning family life, and an increased dependence on societal norms he was coded foreclosure at ages 25 and 29. The main results of the study indicated the participants’ identity development standing after both ages. All of the results varied, but were measured on the same scale.

B. I believe that the results supported the hypothesis.

C. A lot of this study depended on the comparison of answers and reflections at one age to another. I believe having the participants reflect on their lives and views at one age, and compare it to their current views can cause a limitation. Often times we forget the things we valued and viewed at younger ages, therefore causing us to assume or say what we think is appropriate. While overall I do think the study captured a good sense of the participants I believe there should have been a better to assure what they all recalled from earlier ages was completely factual.

Part 4: Personal evaluation

This study adds to our knowledge of human behavior because it can now make us conscious of events that have happened in our past. This new found consciousness would enable us to piece together some of our actions. For example, if John is constantly indecisive and unable to pick a career, this may be because of an experience from his past. This study would show Johns actions, which would now allow him to try and pinpoint where his indecision stems from.

2.) This study/results could be applied to the public by making them conscious of the power of the mind. In the study the adults that were positive about their futures and current life situations reported to have successful careers, and family life 4 years later. Whereas the adults who were negative, ended up having mediocre careers and personal lives.

3.) I think giving the participants more direct questions would improve the study. Asking more direct questions would enable the researchers to do a better comparison from ages 25 to 29.