EGO IDENTITY STATUS IN CROSS-CULTURAL CONTEXT - A COMPARISON OF NORWEGIAN AND UNITED-STATES UNIVERSITY-STUDENTS

To examine patterns of identity development for late adolescents raise d in the Norwegian mixed liberal welfare-state economic system compare d with late adolescents raised in the free-market economic system of t he United States, ego identity status scores and distributions were ex amined for 56 (37 women, 19 men). Norwegian and 1498 (814 women, 684 m en) United States undergraduate university students using the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status-2. The United States sample was drawn from four geographic regions and comprised of those who had participated in prior studies performed by Adams. Significant differen ces were found between the two nations on all identity status subscale s in the ideological and interpersonal domains for each sex. The more moderate identity status scale scores evidenced by the Norwegian sampl e may reflect a cultural trend toward greater moderation in the explor ation and commitment process.