The relationship between ego identity status and Erikson's notions of institutionalized moratoria, value orientation...

A number of concepts central to Erikson's theory of ego identity formation (J. E. Côté and C. Levine [1987], "A Formulation of Erikson's Theory of Ego Identity Formation," Development Review, 7(4): 273-325) are discussed in relation to Marcia's identity status paradigm in light of the fact that both assign a significant role to the notion of identity crisis. The results of an empirical investigation reveal that Erikson's notions of institutionalized moratoria, value orientation stages, and the ego-superego struggle for dominance of the personality are related to the identity status categories in a way that can be partially explained in terms of the degree to which an individual has experienced the identity crisis. Further explanations for the pattern of findings are offered in terms of Erikson's theory. These explanations clarify, to a degree, the nature of the identity statuses from a social psychological perspective.