Identity Style

Abstract

The four personality outcomes classified by Mar-cia 's idenltity-status paradigm are conceptualized in terms of three styles of per sonial pr-oblem solvilng atid decision making: (a) An Information Orientation involves actively sear-chingfor, elaborating, and evaluating issue-relevant iniformation; (b) A Normative Orientation focuses on internalized conventions, standards, and expectations; (c) A Diffuse Orientation is characterized by avoiding or procrastinating until the affective cues in a given situation dictate behavioral reactions. Thie validity of a self-report measure of these styles was examined in two studies. The results indicated that the style measures were related to identity-status scores and other personality measures in a theoretically conisistent fashioni. The findin7gs suggest thal a style conceptualization of identity may be useful, especially in the context of life-span identity crises.