Developmental Perspectives on Identity Formation: From Adolescence to Adulthood

Abstract

The construct of ego identity was introduced and elaborated within an explicitly developmental framework (Erikson, 1959, 1963, 1968). It is therefore not surprising that one of the earlier directions of research work on identity was an assessment of its changes over the life span. Because Erikson’s conceptualization of identity was formulated for clinical analysis, however, whether of individuals or of cultures, he did not delineate readily testable hypotheses about identity formation. This chapter, therefore, is intended to provide a theoretical analysis of the nature of identity formation, including the direction and timing of development, sex differences, and antecedents of change, and to review research data that bear on developmental hypotheses.

This chapter is an updated version of an article originally published as Waterman, A.S. (1982). Identity development from adolescence to adulthood: An extension of theory and a review of research. Developmental Psychology, 18, 342–358. Copyright 1982 by the American Psychological Association. Adapted by permission of the publisher.