Identity Development of College Students

Building off the foundational work of Erik Erikson and Arthur Chickering, Identity Development of College Students adds broad and innovative research to describe contemporary perspectives of identity development at the intersection of context, personal characteristics, and social identities. The authors employ different theoretical perspectives to explore the nature of context—how it both influences and is influenced by multiple social identities. Each chapter includes discussion and reflection questions and activities for individual or small group work.

Praise for Identity Development of College Students

"Susan R. Jones and Elisa S. Abes have provided us with a comprehensive and beautifully written overview of the evolution of identity development theory. This book reads like a novel while at the same time conveying important ideas, critical analysis, and cutting-edge research that will enhance student affairs practice."
—NANCY J. EVANS, professor, Student Affairs Program, School of Education, Iowa State University

"The authors masterfully present a holistic, integrative, and multi-dimensional approach to the identity development of today's college student. This text should be required reading for those engaged in research and practice in the areas of student affairs, counseling, higher education, and cultural studies."
—SHARON KIRKLAND-GORDON, director, Counseling Center, University of Maryland, College Park

"Susan R. Jones and Elisa S. Abes's work is ground-breaking—charting new scholarly territory and making one of the most significant contributions to identity literature in many years. Building on contemporary and traditional theoretical foundations, Jones and Abes offer new models of identity development essential for understanding a diversity of college students."
—MARYLU K. MCEWEN, associate professor emerita, University of Maryland, College Park

List of Tables and Figures vii

The Authors ix

Dedication xi

Acknowledgments xiii

Foreword xv
Marcia B. Baxter Magolda

Preface xix

SECTION ONE SITUATING IDENTITY 1

1 Situating Ourselves in the Study of Identity 5

2 Situating the Study of Identity in the Evolution of Student Development Theories 19

SECTION TWO MULTIPLE IDENTITIES AND MODELS 47

3 Multiple Social Identities and Intersecting Identities 53

4 Model of Multiple Dimensions of Identity 77

5 Reconceptualized Model of Multiple Dimensions of Identity 97

SECTION THREE CRITICAL THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS AND MULTIPLE IDENTITIES 123

6 Intersectionality 135

7 Critical Race Theory 166
with Stephen John Quaye

8 Queer Theory 191
with David Kasch

SECTION FOUR EDUCATIONAL APPLICATIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS 213

9 Application of the Models in Educational Contexts 219

10 Future Directions: Considering Theoretical Perspectives in Conjunction with One Another 252

Final Interludes 288

References 294

Name Index 311

Subject Index 315

SUSAN R. JONES is an associate professor and section head in the Higher Education and Student Affairs Program at The Ohio State University. She was among the first researchers to look at multiple dimensions of identity in the student development research field and is the originator of the Model of Multiple Dimensions of Identity.

ELISA S. ABES is an associate professor of student affairs in higher education at Miami University in Ohio. She teaches student development theory courses with an emphasis on identity development and is the originator of the Reconceptualized Model of Multiple Dimensions of Identity.

“Their book conveys important new ideas, introduces cutting-edge research, and demonstrates the value of critical analysis.  I have no doubt that it will be one of the most important books on college student development to be published in this decade.” — Journal of College Student Development Volume 55 (4)

“Susan R. Jones and Elisa S. Abes have provided us with a comprehensive and beautifully written overview of the evolution of identity development theory. This book reads like a novel while at the same time conveying important ideas, critical analysis, and cutting-edge research that will enhance student affairs practice.”

—Nancy J. Evans, professor, Student Affairs Program, School of Education, Iowa State University

“The authors masterfully present a holistic, integrative, and multi-dimensional approach to the identity development of today’s college student. This text should be required reading for those engaged in research and practice in the areas of student affairs, counseling, higher education, and cultural studies.”

—Sharon Kirkland-Gordon, director, Counseling Center, University of Maryland, College Park

“Susan R. Jones and Elisa S. Abes’s work is ground-breaking—charting new scholarly territory and making one of the most significant contributions to identity literature in many years. Building on contemporary and traditional theoretical foundations, Jones and Abes offer new models of identity development essential for understanding a diversity of college students.”

—Marylu K. McEwen, associate professor emerita, University of Maryland, College Park

“Utilizing an advance copy of Jones and Abes for a graduate school class on student development theory challenged my concept of my own identity and those of the students with whom I work. The models presented using critical perspectives are thought-provoking depictions that truly present a call to action for all student affairs professionals to utilize a critical lens when considering student development.”

—Eric Gudmundson, graduate student, student affairs in higher education