Who do you think you are? An initial investigation of ego identity development and criminogenic thinking among incarcerated offenders

Purpose Criminogenic thinking refers to patterns of specific cognitive events associated with criminal behavior that facilitate the development and maintenance of patterned criminal behavior. Relatively little is known about the specific processes involved in the development of criminogenic thinking. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine ego identity development and criminal associations as two possible predictors of criminogenic thinking. Design/methodology/approach Participants included 104 adult male state penitentiary inmates. Participants completed measures assessing ego identity status, criminogenic thinking, and the amount of time spent in the presence with other offers. Data were analyzed with a series of hierarchical regressions. Findings Results indicated that active engagement in the psychosocial process of identity development is associated with decreased criminogenic thinking. However, interaction with criminal associates and incarceration prior to the age of 18 were significant predictors of criminogenic thinking, regardless of identity development style. Implications for correctional mental health and offender rehabilitation are discussed. Originality/value As this is the first study of its’ kind and limitations are to be expected, there are several potential implications for correctional mental health and offender rehabilitation that are discussed.

Download Full-text

Ego Identity Status in Cross-Cultural Context: A Replication Study

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1999.85.2.457 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 85 (2) ◽

pp. 457-461 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Lene Stegarud ◽

Beate Solheim ◽

Maya Karlsen ◽

Jane Kroger

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Identity Development ◽

Economic System ◽

Cultural Context ◽

Free Market ◽

The United States ◽

Ego Identity ◽

Identity Status ◽

Late Adolescents ◽

Ego Identity Status

The purpose was to replicate research by Jensen, Kristiansen, Sandbekk, and Kroger. In that 1998 study, patterns of identity development were examined for late adolescents raised in the mixed liberal welfare-state economic system of Norway compared with late adolescents raised in the free-market economic system of the United States. In the present study, scores for ego identity status were examined for a further sample of 58 (38 women, 20 men) Norwegian and 1,498 (814 women, 684 men) American undergraduate students using the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status-2. Present results were consistent with those of Jensen, et al., which found Norwegian students to score consistently lower on extent of exploration and of commitment than American students. This study provides further evidence that in late adolescence, Norwegian students may undergo greater moderation in identity exploration and commitment processes than their United States peers. Findings are discussed in the light of social, political, and economic differences between the two nations.

Download Full-text

Ego Identity Status in Cross-Cultural Context: A Comparison of Norwegian and United States University Students

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1998.83.2.455 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 83 (2) ◽

pp. 455-460 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Mette Jensen ◽

Ingvill Kristiansen ◽

Merete Sandbekk ◽

Jane Kroger

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Identity Development ◽

University Students ◽

Economic System ◽

Free Market ◽

The United States ◽

Ego Identity ◽

Identity Status ◽

Late Adolescents ◽

Ego Identity Status

To examine patterns of identity development for late adolescents raised in the Norwegian mixed liberal welfare-state economic system compared with late adolescents raised in the free-market economic system of the United States, ego identity status scores and distributions were examined for 56 (37 women, 19 men). Norwegian and 1498 (814 women, 684 men) United States undergraduate university students using the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status–2. The United States sample was drawn from four geographic regions and comprised of those who had participated in prior studies performed by Adams. Significant differences were found between the two nations on all identity status subscales in the ideological and interpersonal domains for each sex. The more moderate identity status scale scores evidenced by the Norwegian sample may reflect a cultural trend toward greater moderation in the exploration and commitment process.

Download Full-text

The relationships between self-esteem and Ego-identity development

Psiholoska istrazivanja ◽

10.5937/psistra24-29598 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 49-62

Author(s):

Jelena Tovarović

Keyword(s):

Identity Development ◽

Strong Predictor ◽

Objective Measure ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Ego Identity ◽

Two Dimensions ◽

Identity Status ◽

Identity Statuses ◽

Ego Identity Status ◽

The Impact

Identity and self-esteem are important concepts in the development and understanding of individual's self-perception. Perceptions and opinions of significant others influence the construction of adolescents' representations of self and the formation of identity, which, in turn, can be a strong predictor of self-esteem. The significance of our research is reflected in the examination of subjective choices and commitment to roles, values and goals in the domains of religion, occupation, politics and relationships, which can all affect self-esteem. Hence, this paper aims to examine the relationship between identity and self-esteem, more precisely, the impact of identity on self-esteem. The study involved 487 adolescents who completed two questionnaires: the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (EOMEIS-2), which contains four statuses: Achievement, Foreclosure, Diffusion identity and Moratorium, and the Self-Liking Self-Competence Scale (SLSC) used for the assessment of self-esteem, consisting of two dimensions: Self-liking and Self-competence. Correlation analysis of four identity statuses and two dimensions of self-esteem showed a positive correlation of Self-competence and Self-liking with Achievement identity, and a negative correlation of the two dimensions of self-esteem with the Foreclosure, Diffusion identity and Moratorium. In order to analyze the influence of identity on self-esteem in more detail, a regression analysis was performed. When it comes to the dimensions of Self-competence and Self-liking, the most significant predictor is Achievement identity, while Moratorium and Foreclosure identity are less impactful predictors, with a negative sign. The results are interpreted in terms of the influence of identity on the level of self-esteem, as well as the importance of support from others, such as parents and peers. Finally, we provide guidelines for further research of the connection between identity, self-esteem and other concepts which play a significant role in the process of developing the concept of self.

Download Full-text

EXAMINING ADULT’S IDENTITY STATUSES: ADAPTIVE VS. MALADAPTIVE DIMENSION

Problems of Psychology in the 21st Century ◽

10.33225/ppc/14.08.152 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 152-160

Author(s):

Maia Mestvirishvili ◽

Natia Mestvirishvili ◽

Khatuna Martskvishvili ◽

Luiza Arutinov

Keyword(s):

Identity Development ◽

Psychosocial Factors ◽

Discriminant Function ◽

Attachment Styles ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Ego Identity ◽

Identity Status ◽

Identity Statuses ◽

Ego Identity Status ◽

Adolescence Period

To achieve the status of ego identity remains the most important challenge for the adolescence period and consequently is a challenge for developmental psychologists too. The vast majority of studies focus on understanding the dynamics of ego identity development, however, factors that cause different path of development remained unclear. This study aims at tracking the paths, which differentiate ego statuses from finding psychosocial factors contributing to ego identity achievement. For this purpose the relationships between four identity statuses - achievement, exploration, moratorium and foreclosure and number of psychosocial variables such as attachment style, self-esteem and perfectionism have been examined. 386 school teenagers aged 14-17 (M = 15.48) filled a set of questionnaires comprised of four instruments: The Ego Identity Process Questionnaire (EIPQ), The Measure of Attachment Qualities (MAQ), The Perfectionism Inventory (PI) and Adult Sources of Self-Esteem Inventory (ASSEI). Discriminant analysis revealed two basic dimensions (adaptive and maladaptive), which are capable to depict the difference between ego identity statuses. The first discriminant function of ego identity status is primarily defined by conscientious perfectionism and secured attachment; whereas, the second discriminant function consists of avoidance attachment, self-evaluative perfectionism and ambivalent attachment styles. Key words: adolescence period, ego identity status, ego identity development, psychosocial factors.

Download Full-text