802 254-5269
What is Ego Development?
Ego development, as defined by Jane Loevinger, who developed a model to illustrate human personality development, consists of the changes in mental processes put in place by the self or ego (one's self-image or sense of being) to make coherent meaning of what is happening as it experiences day-to-day life. Therefore, one could say that the ego is a meaning making machine, engaged in constantly organizing and reorganizing everything it sees, feels, hears, touches, senses, thinks and tastes. It does this to create and recreate a human viewpoint - your viewpoint. This is the individual perspective which each human can rely on to approach the enormous job of living life. Our egos work tirelessly on our behalf making our worldview out of the barrage of conflicting information that we are immersed in everyday.
The existence of the ego has been questioned and examined through systematic scientific experimentation for over 30 years and has repeatedly been shown to be a valid and reliable concept. In other words, it actually exists. Like intelligence, it occurs as a function not an object - it is an activity or a process.
Jane Loevinger and her colleagues developed a model to illustrate human personality development. Her model describes various stages in the development of the factor she refers to as the ego. Loevinger's model consists of eight levels ranging from the Impulsive stage which normally occurs early in life to the Integrated stage which is reached in life only by a very few individuals. (See Figure 1)
Figure 1.
Levels of development
- Integrated
- Autonomous
- Individualistic
- Conscientious
- Self-Aware
- Conformist
- Self-Protective
- Impulsive
Although some of the less expansive stages (Impulsive, Self-Protective and Conformist) have some approximate correlation to age, in adulthood there is little relationship between age and developmental stage.
Many giant mega studies have been done to analyze the data from collections of smaller studies which focused on the ego, Loevinger's model of development and her method of measuring that development: the Washington University Sentence Completion Test (SCT). In these studies, all three central claims of her model were demonstrated to be true and reliable. First, the ego, as described by Loevinger, has been repeatedly shown to exist. Second, these studies have demonstrated that the ego is indeed the central organizing function of human consciousness. Third, these mega inquiries have shown that Loevinger accurately depicts the stages of ego development as they are experienced by human consciousness.
Suzanne Cook-Greuter expanded Loevinger's system by making comparisons with other models and performing validity and reliability testing on the two new stages that she defined. Loevinger, herself, hesitated to perform this further delineation of stages because she contended that there were too few individuals operating at this level to study. Although Suzanne Cook-Greuter agreed with the viewpoint that this type of study would be difficult, she disagreed with the premise that those difficulties should prevent the research. Cook-Greuter expanded upon some of the theories of Loevinger and integrated other ideas from other theorists, notably Robert Kegan with certain Eastern spiritual teachings. She, like Loevinger, based her work on the idea that language reflects how the self creates its world and that changes in this worldview could be measured by the highly validated SCT.
With her vast theoretical basis and years of practical experience scoring SCT protocols, Cook-Greuter defined two ego levels at the most expanded end of the scale, the Construct-aware stage and the Unitive stage (see figure 2). According to her theory, the Construct-aware stage follows Loevinger's Autonomous stage and the Unitive stage follows the Construct-aware stage as the most expanded stage measurable by the SCT.
Figure 2.
Levels of development
- Unitive
- Construct-aware
- Autonomous
- Individualistic
- Conscientious
- Self-Aware
- Conformist
- Self-Protective
- Impulsive
I consider this entire model to be a great beginning in understanding the process of human development.
The concept of ego development is probably the most important and relevant concept in our modern post-post modern world. To fully understand what is happening with us individually or what is happening to our world collectively, this model sheds a warm light of coherence and comprehension.
I work with ego development in many ways:
SCT scoring
Mindful Endeavors offers complete SCT scoring for individuals and groups, for businesses and student projects. The entire process can be handled via-e-mail and is completely confidential. Standard 36 item SCT scoring is $80. A student discount is also offered at $60. For research projects where multiple scoring is required call for pricing. The scoring sheet includes a summary of the model and an explanation of your perspective as measured by the SCT.
SCT coaching
Although receiving the SCT is an enormously helpful first step in understanding your development, speaking with myself regarding your direction can improve your focus. An interpretation of the spread of scores in relationship to the topics queried sheds considerable light on your worldview. I think that this is so important that I offer this whole process including the SCT scoring at the discounted rate of $120 which includes a one hour phone interview. This hour could provide a major breakthrough in self-understanding.
Talks on ego-development
This is the major topic of our time. Focusing on development of yourself and your species as the primary goal of life is both crucial and exciting and opens unlimited possibilities. I am available to speak at group meetings to introduce the topic or explain its relevance to the goals of the organization. The general fee for these engagements is $800 plus expenses. Click here for a brief sample of this type of presentation.
Day long workshops
Ego development relates to coaching, counseling, social work and structuring institutions in general. It is a major and fundamental way of understanding people, the differences and the similarities. Hosting a one day workshop devoted to the topic could go a long way in promoting harmony, engendering agreement or setting in place a framework for building an institution. The general fee for a one day workshop is $2,000 plus expenses, but for institutions or individuals without means please call me and we can discuss arrangements.
Ego Development & The Enneagram
On July 9, 2006, Terry Saracino, David Daniels and I met with the Association of Enneagram Teachers in The Narrative Tradition at the annual conference held in Silver Spring, Maryland to conduct an experiental workshop. After a brief introductory lecture summarizing some of the fine points of Jane Loevinger's model of Ego development with additional modifications by Susanne Cooke-Greuter at the highest two levels, two questions were posed to the group of one hundred or so members of the association: Given your type, what facilitated your development from one level to the next? and Given your type, what hinders or blocks your development now? To see the feedback from this workshop click here