relationships also play a major role in our self-definitions; as they tend
to change over time, so must the Self-Concept. As we saw in Chapter 8in the study of the spontaneous self-concept, when people are asked torespond to the question “Who am I?” they frequently describe them -
selves by reference to what is called their social identity : I am a doctor, a
Republican, a mother, a Lutheran. Each person occupies, simulta -
neously and successively , a dazzling variety of roles, and one of the chief
functions of the ego described in Chapter 8 is keeping all of thesestraight. Much of the individual’s sense of identity is tied to the set ofroles to which he or she is more or less permanently committed. Butmuch of what might reasonably be called adult development is an adap -
tation of the Self-Concept to changing roles.
The word identity is sometimes used to refer to those aspects of the
Self-Concept that are essential to one’s self-definition. Personality traitsmay be a salient part of one’s identity , but so may social definitions orbody image. Whether and in what ways identity changes in adulthoodare only beginning to be explored. Whitbourne and Waterman (1979)have traced the development of identity from college age (by whichtime Erikson suggested it should be formed) through the 30s, and theyreport an increase in commitment over this period—a conclusion thatechoes R. W . White’s (1952) finding of “stabilization of ego identity” inhis case studies covering a similar period of development. Does identitycontinue to stabilize, or are the identity crises of adolescence revived atmiddle age? Our studies (McCrae & Costa, 1988a) and some others(e.g., Whitbourne, 1986a) point to stabilization in the Self-Concept andperhaps also in those central elements that constitute one’s identity .
Another aspect of the Self-Concept is the life narrative (McAdams,
1993). According to proponents of this construct, people do not orga -
nize their Self-Concept alphabetically , keeping lists of relevant traits,
roles, and relationships. Instead, they structure it in terms of a story , in -
tended to give meaning, purpose, and unity to their lives. Some see
their lives as an unfolding tragedy; some, as a comedy . Some focus onthe obstacles they have faced and overcome; some, on the friends theyhave made. Most people base their life stories on their Objective Biogra -
phy , but they do so very selectively .
The Objective Biography changes with each passing day . It seems
unlikely that the life narrative would change so rapidly . Major lifeevents would certainly offer an opportunity for reconstruing one’s life,but because there have been no longitudinal studies of life narratives,Influences of Personality on the Life Course 215