Loevinger's stages of ego development

Developmental Psychology: Cognitive development · Development of the self · Emotional development · Language development · Moral development · Perceptual development · Personality development · Psychosocial development · Social development · Developmental measures

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Jane Loevinger's stages of ego development includes nine sequential stages, each of which represents a progressively more complex way of perceiving oneself in relation to the world.

Infancy[]

Presocial
No ego
Not Differentiated from the World
Symbiotic
Self-Nonself Differentiation
Stability of Objects

Impulsive[]

Curbed by Restraints, Rewards & Punishments
Others are Seen as What They Can Give
"Nice to Me" or "Mean to Me"
Present-Centred
Physical but not Psychological Causation

Self-Protective[]

Anticipates Rewards & Punishments
First Self-Control
"Don’t Get Caught"
Externalize Blame
Opportunistic Hedonism

Conformist[]

Take in Rules of the Group
No Self Apart from Others
Other’s Disapproval is Sanction
Not Only Fear of Punishment
Rules and Norms not Distinguished
Rejects Out-Group
Stereotypes Roles
Security = Belonging
Behaviours Judged Externally not by Intentions

Self-Aware[]

Self Distinct from Norms & Expectations
First Inner Life
Banal Feelings Always in Reference to Others
Pseudo-Trait Conceptions
Modal Stage of Adults

Conscientious[]

Goals and Ideals
Sense of Responsibility
Rules are Internalized
Guilt is From Hurting Another, not Breaking Rules
Having Self Apart from Group
Standards are Self-Chosen
Traits are Part of Rich Interior World
Standards Distinguished from Manners
Motives and not Just Actions
Sees Self from Other Point of View

Individualistic[]

Distancing from Role Identities
Subjective Experience as Opposed to Objective Reality
Greater Tolerance of Self & Others
Relationships Cause Dependency
Awareness of Inner Conflict
Inner Reality Vs. Outward Appearance
Psychological Causality and Development

Autonomous[]

Inner Conflicts of Needs Vs Duties
Polarity, Complexity, Multiple Facets
Integrate Ideas
Tolerate Ambiguity
Freeing from Conscience
Concern for Emotional Interdependence
Integrates Different Identities
Self-Fulfillment
How They Function in Different Roles

Integrated[]

Transcendence of Conflicts
Self-Actualizing
Fully Worked Out Identity

References[]

Loevinger, J. (1976) Ego Development. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

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