Stages of ego development - Essay Example

Running Head: Ego Development Ego Development [Institute’s Ego Development The theory of ego development did not begin with psychoanalysts, such as Freud and Adler as claimed by popular belief, but originated many centuries ago as a part of ancient Greek and Hindu cultures. The concept continued to be explained under several different names or titles such as moral development, character development, and others. Several psychoanalysts, such as Freud and Adler differed in their views on ego development and hence theoretical issues arose in defining and explaining the process (Hy & Loevinger, 1996).

One of the main issues that arose between Freud and Adler was whether to define ego development as an ongoing process or a series of separate stages. According to Jane Loevinger (1996), the ego is separated into eight separate stages each bearing their own characteristics. The first stage is the impulsive stage, the stage that young children occupy. At this stage, the child is selfish and self-absorbed while being dependent upon the adult. The second stage is the self-protective stage in which a person is usually seeking opportunities and is manipulative in order to get their own way.

The third stage is the conformist stage in which people tend to reform their behavior and are concerned about impressions they make. The next three stages that are the self aware, conscientious, and individualistic stages respectively are a person’s stepping-stones to forming their identity and individual personality. The last two stages which are Autonomous and Integrated occur when a person is satisfied with their position in life and has achieved a distinct identity for him/herself as an individual (Loevinger, 1996).

References Hy, L., Loevinger, J. (1996) Measuring Ego Development. Springer. Loevinger, J. (1996). “The meaning and measurement of Ego Development.” American Psychologist. Volume 21, Issue 2, pp. 195-206.