A longitudinal study of changes in ego identity status and adjustment to air force life during the first year at the Airman Cadet School

Abstract

Factors affecting decisions about occupational choice and the nature of the decision process concern many people. An important determining factor in occupational choice is Ego Identity status. This study investigates developmental changes in Ego Identity status in 90 Airman Cadets enrolled at the Airman Cadet School for their first year of work. Marcia's concept of Ego Identity status provided the empirical framework for establishing differences in change and stability among statuses as the cadets adjusted to Air Force life. Differences in Locus of Control were also measured. It was hypothesised that cadets would change status in the direction of Identity Achievement during the year, that the Foreclosure status would be the most resistent to change, that change could be anticipated through inconsistent scores in the Locus of Control measure, and that statuses high in the 'commitment' component of Ego Identity would best adjust to Air Force life. Subjects were interviewed in February and November of the same year to determine their Identity statuses. Locus of Control was measured by the Rotter Internal-External Control Scale. Degree of adjustment to Air Force life was determined by promotions and through a Likert-type adjustment scale. The findings revealed that all but one cadet were Foreclosures, and that these Foreclosures could be categorised as 'firmly' committed or 'tentatively' committed. Further, it was revealed that changes in occupational and idealogical choice can happen independently of one another (either in a positive or a negative direction), but contrary to what has been suggested in the literature, both occupation and ideology can simultaneously be the focus of attention, even though such changes may not be unidirectional. In addition, it appeared that the Locus of Control measure had useful predictive validity as an indicator of change in status. Finally, it was concluded that the Foreclosure status was particularly adaptive for Airman Cadets in their adjustment to Air Force life.