Jane Loevinger

Jane Loevinger was an American developmental psychologist who is best known for her theory of ego development.

Biography

Loevinger was born on February 6, 1918, in St. Paul, Minnesota. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota in 1939 and went on to complete her Ph.D. in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley in 1946.

Theory of Ego Development

Loevinger’s theory of ego development is a psychosocial stage theory that describes the cognitive, emotional, and interpersonal development of individuals throughout their lifespan.

Stages of Ego Development

Loevinger’s theory proposes nine stages of ego development, which reflect different levels of psychological maturity and self-awareness. These stages range from the pre-conventional stages, where the individual is focused on satisfying their own needs, to the post-conventional stages, where the individual considers the broader societal and moral implications of their actions.

Contributions and Impact

Loevinger’s theory of ego development has been widely used and influential in the fields of psychology and human development. Her work provided a valuable framework for understanding the growth and evolution of the self throughout a person’s life.

Later Career and Legacy

In addition to her research on ego development, Loevinger also made significant contributions to the study of assessment and measurement in psychology. She developed the Sentence Completion Test, which is a widely used tool for assessing personality traits and ego development.

Jane Loevinger passed away on January 4, 2008, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the field of developmental psychology.