Freshman to senior year: A follow-up study of identity, narcissism, and defense mechanisms

The identity status, narcissism, and use of defense mechanisms of 89 college seniors who had previously been assessed as they entered college (Cramer, 1995) was determined. As compared to earlier follow-up studies, fewer students were found in the Foreclosed status, and more students remained in Moratorium. Support was found for the previously made predictions that change in identity status would be associated with change in defenses and narcissism. Students who advanced to higher identity statuses made less use of defenses and showed higher narcissism. (C) 1998 Academic Press.