Identity development and personal expressiveness

• Main Author: Gordon, Lisa Lande, 1961-
• Other Authors: Erickson, Richard L.
• Language: en_US
• Published: The University of Arizona. 1989
• Subjects: Identity (Psychology); Expression.
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10150/277201

A third defining dimension of identity has been proposed in addition to those of exploration and commitment. This study set out to demonstrate a relationship between identity scores as measured by the Extended Objective Measure of Ego-Identity Status and the third defining dimension, personal expressiveness, as measured by the Personal Expressiveness Activities Questionnaire. Results demonstrated a strong relationship between identity scores and expressiveness with a significant positive correlation between the achievement subscores and expressiveness, and significant negative correlations between the moratorium, foreclosure, and the diffusion subscores. The results appear to validate that expressiveness is indeed a third defining dimension of identity, however recommendations are made based on this study's findings regarding the adequacy of Waterman's Seven-Category Paradigm. Limitations and implications of the study are discussed.