Mobility as a Factor in Adolescent Identity Problems

Abstract

Social mobility has been viewed as creating psychic discomfort for an individual. This study examined the self-images of 40 college students (20 upper-middle-class, 20 socially mobile) by means of a semantic differential designed to measure Erikson's concept of ego-identity. Contrary to expectations, the socially mobile group appeared to have more positive self-images than did the upper-middle-class group. The socially mobile viewed themselves as mote autonomous and more productive than did their upper-middle class counterparts, and this contributed to their view of themselves as competent individuals. In adolescence, social mobility may be related to psychic ease rather than to the postulated psychic discomfort.

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