IDENTITY ORIENTATION AND DECISIONAL STRATEGIES

Two studies designed to investigate the relationship between identity orientation and decisional strategies are reported. Identity orientati on refers to the way in which individuals approach or manage to avoid the tasks of constructing and revising their self-identity. Study 1 re vealed that information-oriented individuals reportedly engaged in sys tematic, vigilant decisional practices whereas diffuse/avoidant-orient ed subjects resorted to maladaptive decisional strategies including pr ocrastination, avoidance, and excuse making. Also, within this sample of late adolescent college students, identity orientation was found to be independent from intellectual ability. Study 2 replicated the majo r findings of Study 1 and furnished evidence about cognitive aspects o f the identity orientations. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.