Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 27, 2026
08:01
Virtual Hand with Ambiguous Movement between the Self and Other Origin: Sense of Ownership and 'Other-Produced' Agency
Published on: October 28, 2020
6.1K
Micro-level processes of identity development: Intra-individual relations between commitment and exploration.
Mandy A E van der Gaag1, Naomi M P de Ruiter1, E Saskia Kunnen1
1Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
Journal of Adolescence
|January 7, 2016
Summary
This study examines how commitment and exploration within higher education students change over time. Findings reveal individual differences in these identity processes, emphasizing a micro-level, within-individual approach for accurate understanding.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Education
Background:
- Identity development is often studied at a macro level, overlooking dynamic intra-individual processes.
- Existing research may not fully capture the nuanced interplay between commitment and exploration in identity formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate micro-level, intra-individual processes of identity, specifically commitment and exploration, within higher education.
- To explore the associations between changes in commitment and exploration on a micro level.
- To clarify existing theories of identity development by examining within-individual variation.
Main Methods:
- An intensive longitudinal design was employed.
- The study focused on the general context of higher education.
- A within-individual empirical approach was used to analyze data.
Main Results:
- Significant variation exists between individuals in the associations between exploration and commitment processes.
- Similarities in these processes were identified across individuals.
- The findings underscore the heterogeneous nature of micro-level identity processes.
Conclusions:
- Distinguishing between micro- and macro-level identity processes is crucial.
- A within-individual approach is necessary to adequately study micro-level identity dynamics.
- Understanding individual differences in identity processes can refine developmental theories.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:26Marcia's Theory of Identity Status
2.2K
James Marcia's identity status model provides a framework for understanding how adolescents navigate identity formation through varying degrees of exploration and commitment. Marcia's model builds on Erik Erikson's theories of psychosocial development, focusing specifically on how adolescents reconcile individual aspirations with societal expectations. His model describes identity formation as a dynamic process where adolescents move between different states depending on their level...
2.2K
01:17Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adolescence
1.8K
Erik Erikson's fifth stage of psychosocial development, "identity versus role confusion," is crucial during adolescence (ages 12 to 18). In this stage, adolescents face the developmental task of forging a distinct personal identity, a process influenced by social, psychological, and biological changes typical of this period. Adolescents naturally explore different roles, behaviors, and ideologies as they navigate complex questions of self-concept, asking, "Who am I?" and "What is my place in...
1.8K
01:23Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
702
Adolescence is a pivotal period of identity formation, during which individuals begin to answer questions central to their sense of self, such as "Who am I?" and "Who do I hope to become?" Both parents and peers play critical roles in guiding adolescents through this complex developmental phase.
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
702
01:27Emerging Adulthood
980
Jeffrey Arnett's concept of emerging adulthood offers a framework to understand the unique developmental stage between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood, generally from ages 18 to 25. This period is marked by extensive exploration and shifts in identity, relationships, and career choices, a process known in psychology as role experimentation. Emerging adulthood reflects the evolving cultural expectations surrounding adulthood and the dynamic process of personal transformation during...
980
01:21Role-Based Identity
280
Role-based identities are central to understanding how individuals navigate social environments by adopting distinct self-conceptions aligned with various societal roles. These identities are not fixed traits but are constructed through personal actions and the social feedback individuals receive in context-specific interactions. Each social role, such as student, teacher, or friend, carries a set of expectations and norms that influence how people think, feel, and behave within that...
280
01:27Relationship Growth
291
Interpersonal relationships progress through stages, beginning with awareness and moving toward mutuality, where emotional connections deepen. While many relationships remain at moderate levels of mutuality, deeper connections form through self-disclosure, trust, and interdependence.Self-DisclosureSelf-disclosure involves revealing personal information, starting with surface-level details and gradually progressing to more intimate content. As trust grows, individuals feel more comfortable...
291