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Ego identity and desperate love.
1Department of Psychiatry, Cornell University Medical College, Westchester Division, The New York Hospital, White Plains 10605, USA.
Journal of Personality Assessment
|January 1, 1987
Summary
This study found that higher ego-identity consolidation is linked to less desperate love styles. These findings explore the connection between self-identity and romantic relationship patterns.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Relationship Science
Background:
- Ego-identity consolidation is crucial for healthy adult development.
- Understanding the nuances of romantic attitudes and love styles is essential for relationship satisfaction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationships between ego-identity consolidation, romantic attitudes toward love, and desperate, fusional love styles.
- To investigate the correlation between a consolidated ego-identity and a less desperate approach to romantic relationships.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Ego Identity Scale (Tan et al., 1977).
- Employed Sperling's (1985) Desperate Love Scale.
- Administered Knox and Sporakowski's (1968) Attitude Toward Love Scale.
- Data collected from an initial undergraduate sample (84 men, 87 women) and a follow-up sample (116 men).
Main Results:
- A significant negative correlation was found between ego-identity consolidation and desperate love.
- Secondary hypotheses regarding romantic attitudes and love styles were also supported.
- Results were consistent across both undergraduate and follow-up samples.
Conclusions:
- Stronger ego-identity consolidation is associated with healthier, less desperate love styles.
- Findings suggest that developing a consolidated sense of self may buffer against maladaptive relationship patterns.
- Implications for therapeutic interventions aimed at improving relationship dynamics.