Do we change when we think we have changed? Personal changes in the context of crucial life events

Abstract

The theory of ego development [Loevinger, 1976] and the theory of basic psychological needs [Deci, Ryan, 2000] present conflicting views on the primary driving forces behind personal change. This study aims to reconcile and expand these two approaches. The sample consisted of 156 individuals (132 women; M = 27.9; SD = 5.7). The research design included repeated measurements over an interval of three to six years. In the first phase of the study, respondents' level of ego development was measured. In the second phase, several variables were assessed, including whether respondents had experienced crucial life events (events that resulted in substantial changes in themselves or their worldview) since the first phase. Respondents with and without such experiences were compared. The initial level of ego development in the group with crucial life event experiences did not differ from the group without such experiences. In the second phase, the level of ego development was significantly higher in the group with crucial life event experiences than in the group without them. Retrospective assessment of the initial level of ego development was lower than the actual assessment in the group with crucial life event experiences and matched the actual assessment in the group without such experiences. The level of satisfaction of all basic psychological needs significantly increased in the group with crucial life event experiences. The results suggest a potential link between the phenomenon of crucial life events and the satisfaction of basic psychological needs with the maintenance of the level of ego development. Additionally, the study indicates that individuals overestimate the extent of their changes in the context of crucial life events. This research contributes to the understanding of personal change processes, highlighting the difference between the subjective perception of personal change and the actual change in the level of ego development.