According to Loevinger’s Theory of Ego Development, the ego is the struggle to comprehend, understand, and organize the experiences of life (McAdams, 2006). The sense of self or ego changes based on experiences and challenges faced throughout life, and hence, the ego is in constant flux. Loevinger developed a theory based on the stages of cognitive development and how it influences the personality. Using an analogy of climbing stairs, each stair (or stage) must be mastered before moving on to the next, with each stage providing meaning with which one understands and makes sense of one’s world.
There are three primary stages: impulse control, interpersonal mode, and conscious preoccupations (2006). Generally speaking, as one moves from the lover level of impulsivity to the higher level of conscious preoccupations, one is less enslaved to impulsiveness and freer to act based on internal morals and codes (2006). With maturity, preoccupations are focused less on body image and more on internal feelings and goals. It is important to note that individuals move through the various stages at different levels. (2006)
Loevinger measures ego development through a verbal sentence completion test; hence, infants are unable to take the test. Though Loevinger does not specifically address the preverbal stage of ego development, other theorists agree that ego begins in infancy with the recognition of self. Loevinger believes early childhood to be continually stuck in impulsivity as self expression; generally speaking, the impulsive stage is egocentric. The child is dependent, demanding, and the ego needs solely the satisfaction of one’s own needs and wants. The impulsive individual looks only to the present, not the past or future, and classifications are quite simple and generalized such as “good” versus “bad” or “mean to me” versus “good to me” (2006). The impulsive stage is followed by the self-protective stage in which an individual understands that it is in their best interest to follow rules most of the time; one who stalls out in this stage may become deceptive in relationship or an opportunist. (2006)
In early adolescence, many move from the egocentric preoccupation with oneself to that of the group, marking the ego development to that of the conformist stage. The conformist stage is where the child conforms to what society has deemed normal and seeks a close friend with whom the child can identify in similarities. Loevinger’s theory states the adolescent may enter into a transitional stage of conscientious/conformist in which the person breaks from peer groups through an increasing awareness of self. The increasing awareness of self and one’s inner life leads to the conscientious stage where in the adolescent or adult has significantly parted with convention and has developed an inner set of standards, goals, and ideals. Loevinger maintains that few adults progress past the conscientious stage of ego development. (2006)
The fully self realizing adult will, however, ideally reach the individualistic stage, wherein the individual becomes more tolerant of the differences in others and a more developed awareness of the conflict between individuality and emotional dependence. The next stage, the autonomous stage of ego development shows the individual with an acquired tolerance for ambiguity and complex cognition, with a respect of the autonomy of others, wherein the individual replaces personal achievement with self-fulfillment. Rarest of all, the integrated ego cherishes individuality and realizes the complete integration of identity. (2006)
Loevingers model of ego development has made a tremendous impact on personality psychology through the standardized sentence-completion test, wherein the stages of ego development can be accurately and validly measured. However, due to the test relying on verbal expression, it is limited in its capacity, since the test taker must be able to read and write. It is, in my opinion, important that each individual seek higher levels of self-awareness and continue to climb the stairs of ego development.
Reference
McAdams, D. (2006). The person: A new introduction to personality psychology. (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
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