Convergent Validity of the Erwin Identity Scale

Abstract

Evidence is presented partially supporting the convergent validity of the Erwin Identity Scale from use of two samples of high school students. Two EIS subscales, Confidence and Sexual Identity, were moderately correlated with Simmons's Identity Achievement Scale and Rotter's Internal-External Scale. No relationship was found between the third EIS subscale, Conceptions About Body and Appearance, and either Simmons's or Rotter's scales.

The development of identity has been recognized as an important aspect of human development for years (Bourne, 1980; James, 1890). What was strictly a psychological concept has now become common conversation in the American culture, manifest by phrases such as “seeking an identity” or “identity crisis.” Although Erikson (1950, 1968) has been given the distinction for advancing the psychological theory of identity, he has also been given credit for contributing to confusion of the concept (Thayer, 1963). Because of this confusion, several interpretations of Erikson's work have been proposed. The conceptualizations of Marcia and Chickering have been two of the most widely discussed (Bourne, 1980; Parker, 1978).

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bourne

The state of research on ego identity: A review and appraisal. Part I. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 1980, 7, 223–251.

Chickering

A. W.

Education and identity. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1969.

Erikson

E. H.

Growth and crisis of the healthy personality. In Seen

M. J. E.

(ed.) Symposium on the healthy personality. Supplement II. New York: Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation, 1950, 91–146.

Erikson

E. H.

Identity: Youth and crisis. New York: Norton, 1968.

Erwin

T. D.

The validation of the Erwin Identity Scale. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Iowa, 1978)

Dissertation Abstracts International, 1979, 39, 4818A–4819A (University Microfilms No. 7902899).

Erwin

T. D.

Delworth

A instrument to measure Chickering's vector of identity. National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Journal, 1980, 17, 19–24.

James

The principles of psychology. New York: Holt, 1890.

Marcia

J. E.

Development and validation of ego-identity status. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1966, 3, 551–558.

Parker

C. A.

(ed.) Encouraging development in college students. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1978.

10.

Rotter

J. B.

Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs, 1966, 80, (1, Whole No. 609).

11.

Simmons

D. D.

Development of an objective measure of identity achievement status. Journal of Projective Techniques and Personality Assessment, 1973, 34, 241–244.

12.

Thayer

L. D.

Identity: A conceptual, empirical, and methodological study. Doctoral dissertation, the University of Oklahoma, 1963.