Ego Identity Development In Adolescence---Research On Ldentity Status And Its Related Factors

This paper discusses the issue of ego identity raised by famous American psychologist E.H. Erikson.It also introduces the related researches that have been undertaken both at home and abroad. With the Identity Status Inventory and Cartell 16PF Questionare, the author made a survey on 396 students(in senior middle school and university) on identity status and personality factors .The results shows that: 1. There is no significant difference in ego identity status between students in senior middle school and in university, but further research shows that there exists significant developmental difference in Foreclosure Status among the male students. 2. The gender factor affects the adolescent ego identity development ,but the effect is only significant among the college students. There is significant difference between male and female college students on the ego identity Element I and Eletnentlll. The college male students have a stronger resent self-commitment and he willingness of future self-commitment?than the female students. 3. The development of ego identity is closely related with some personality factors. Individuals of different ego identity status show significant difference in some personality factors. .All elements of ego identity are closely related with some personality factors. 4. The development of ego identity is closely related with the level of mental health. Individuals of different ego identity status show significant difference on the level of mental health. All elements of ego identity are closely related with the level of mental health. 5. There is significant difference between students in senior middle school and in vocational senior middle school about the distribution of their ego identity Achievement Status, but there exists no significant difference between the two groups mentioned above on the distribution of other ego identity status and all elements of ego identity.