Jane Loevinger theory of ego development

Erik Erikson

- Jane Loevinger's ego development theory is based on Erickson's psychosocial model

- Due to Erikson, she saw the search for an understanding of self as the center of human development

- In some ways , Jane echoes his theory that individuals require a need to know themselves well enough before forming intimate relationships with anyone else.

Key Concepts

The ego is viewed as the frame of reference one use to construct and interpret one's world .

• 4 levels of interpersonal maturity & interpersonal integration.
• Loevinger considered a sense of self -awareness in which one becomes aware of discrepancies between conventions and one's own behaviour.

She describes that there are 9 stages of the ego's development.

THEORY:

• This theory involves the studies of the ego, the super ego and the id
• Jane uses these three parts of our mind to explore and categorize our stages of ego development

The Ego:

• A person's sense of self-esteem or self importance

The ID

• The part of the mind in which innate instinctive impulses & primary processes are manifested.

The Superego

• The part of person's mind that acts as a self-critical conscience, reflecting social standards learned from parents and other models of behaviour

Jane Loevinger

• Jane was a developmental psychologist who developed a theory of personality
• It emphasize the gradual internalization of social rules and the maturing conscience (ego)
• Jane’s theory draws attention to the social rules and the maturing sense of right and wrong
• Stages are solely based on the individuals psychological clock

Jane Loevinger's Theory of Ego Development

3. Self-Protective

7. The Individualistic Stage

5. Self-Aware Stage

8. Autonomous Stage

1. Pre-Social Stage:

• Individual respect for one's own and others autonomy
• Goal is = Self fulfillment
• Loevinger describes this stage as marked by the “freeing of a person from oppressive demands of conscience in the previous stages”.

• In the individualistic stage individuals demonstrate both a respect for individuality and interpersonal ties
• Loevinger explains that if one is to surpass the conscientious stage they must be more tolerant of themselves and of others In doing this, one shows they recognize individual differences

Common in the early and middle childhood

• This is the first step towards self-control of impulses
• Person in this stage urges to blame anybody but themselves

Goal: "Get what I want without getting caught"

• Young adults experience

• Increase in self-awareness

• Capability to imagine multiple possibilities in situations

• Increased but still limited awareness deeper issues

• Typical ego stage during infancy

• Id-like ego

• Cognitive confusion between caregiver & world

• Emotional fusion with primary caregiver

• Relies strictly on observation

6. Conscientious Stage

2. Impulsive Stage

4. Conformist

9. Integrated Stage

Is it possible to reach full ego development ?

It is possible for individuals to reach full ego development however, few people reach this stage.

*The integrated stage is rarely ever reached according to Loevinger.*

• The ego shows wisdom, broad empathy towards oneself and others and a capacity to not just be aware of inner conflicts like the individualistic ego or tolerate inner conflicts like the autonomous ego, but make peace with those issues.

Only 1% reaches this stage

Stage usually includes people in school

• View life in a stereotypical way

i.e. groups begin to form based on gender - boys and girls

• In this stage the individual seeks acceptance and approval of society

Model stage for toddlers

• Jane states that "the child is preoccupied with bodily impulsive gestures"
• Discipline as well as "rewards and punishments" are viewed as "Nice to Me" and "Mean to Me"

Can an Individual Skip a Stage?

• Internalization rules is complete

• Goals and ideas are acknowledged

• Guilt triggered by hurting another

• Shame v.s. Guilt

• Standards are self-chosen

No, since each new stage of the development builds on the previous one and integrates it.

Weaknesses

Strengths

In Summary ...

References

• Ego = strives to master, integrate, and make sense of experience

By : Sam, Teju, Jasmine, Queenly & Nana

• Chronological clock as one ages
• Social environment dismissed
• Stages are immediate and abrupt
• Does not take into account those living in isolation

• The ego was theorized to mature and evolve through stages across the lifespan as a result of a dynamic interaction between the inner self and the outer environment

• Explanation for one's behavior/development
• Used for testing
• Looks at personalities as meaningful wholes
• Based around individuality & differences
• Set guidelines for adolescence

• Further identifies personalities as meaningful wholes

Bursik, K., & A. Martin, T. (n.d.). Ego Development and Adolescent Academic Achievement. Retrieved March23, 2015, from http://academic.udayton.edu/jackbauer/Readings 595/Bursik 06 ED acad ach copy.pdf

Marshall, P. (2009, January 1). POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTIVIST DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY: A THEORETICAL ENQUIRY INTO HOW A DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE CONCEPTION MIGHT PROVIDE FURTHER INSIGHTS INTO SPECIFIC AREAS OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY. Retrieved March 23, 2015, from https://dts.lectica.org/PDF/DissertationPaulMarshall.pdf

Mitchell, G. (n.d.). Ego Autonomy and Overcoming the Superego. Retrieved March 23, 2015, from http://www.mind-development.eu/ego-autonomy.html

Suchman, N., McMahon, T., DeCoste, C., Castiglioni, N., & Luthar, S. (2009, August 19). Ego Development, Psychopathology, and Parenting Problems in Substance-Abusing Mothers. Retrieved March 23, 2015, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2729054/

Unit 2: Adolescence and Young Adulthood. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2015, from http://hhskci.weebly.com/unit-2-adolescence-and-young-adulthood.html

Westernberg, P., Blasi, A., & Cohn, L. (n.d.). Chater One: The Explaination of Development. In Personality Development: Theoretical, Empirical, and Clincial Investigations of Loevinger's Conception of Ego Development.

• Enriches our understanding of fundamental human capacities for sensing our inner and outer world