ABSTRACT
Loevinger’s (1976) conceptualization of ego development as an evolving system of meaning-making encompasses a broad range of an individual’s functioning and perception of inner and outer experience. In Loevinger’s theory, ego development represents a “master trait” (Loevinger & Wessler, 1970; Tellegen, 1988), a framework of meaning governing how individuals master and interpret experience. At each level along the continuum of ego development, ego functioning is aligned with synchronous development in various ego domains (self, cognition, character, morality, and interpersonal relating) in a characteristic frame of reference. These frameworks represent a sequence of stages of socioemotional development.
