Psychosocial Inventory of Ego Strengths (PIES)

Abstract

The Psychosocial Inventory of Ego Strengths (PIES) is a psychological measure developed by Markstrom and colleagues in 1997. It was specifically designed to operationalize the eight positive outcomes, or ego strengths, proposed by Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development. The PIES provides a quantitative assessment of an individual’s successful resolution of the psychosocial crises encountered throughout the lifespan, focusing on traits such as Hope, Will, Purpose, Competence, Fidelity, Love, Care, and Wisdom. It is primarily used in research concerning adolescence and young adulthood to examine developmental maturity and psychological adjustment.

Keywords

Ego strengths, Erikson’s theory, psychosocial development, Hope, Will, Purpose, Competence, Fidelity, Love, Care, Wisdom, developmental psychology, psychometric properties.

Authors

Markstrom, C., Sabino, V. M., Turner, B., Berman, R. C., Marshall, S. K.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the PIES is to provide a comprehensive, empirically validated measure for assessing the positive resolutions of the eight stages of Erikson’s psychosocial development. Prior to the PIES, many Eriksonian measures focused predominantly on the negative outcomes (e.g., despair or isolation). The PIES fills this gap by focusing explicitly on the resulting ego strengths, which function as crucial personality resources.

This instrument allows researchers and clinicians to evaluate the degree to which an individual has successfully integrated the strengths associated with each developmental stage, providing insight into their overall psychological well-being and maturity. It is particularly valuable for studying developmental trajectories during adolescence and the transition to adulthood.

Construct

The PIES is fundamentally rooted in Erik Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development, measuring the positive outcome (ego strength) associated with each stage, which stand in opposition to a core pathology or negative resolution. The scale measures eight distinct ego strengths:

• Hope (vs. Withdrawal)
• Will (vs. Compulsion)
• Purpose (vs. Inhibition)
• Competence (vs. Inertia)
• Fidelity (vs. Role Repudiation)
• Love (vs. Exclusivity)
• Care (vs. Rejectivity)
• Wisdom (vs. Disdain)

Each of the 64 items is designed to reflect the cognitive, affective, and behavioral manifestations of these positive strengths, reflecting an individual’s capacity for adaptive functioning and commitment to life tasks.

Validity

The development of the PIES involved rigorous steps to ensure strong construct validity. Initial studies (Markstrom et al., 1997) and subsequent examinations (Markstrom & Marshall, 2006) confirmed that the scale structure aligns theoretically with Erikson’s model. Factor analysis generally supports the hypothesized eight-factor structure, demonstrating that the items reliably group into the eight intended ego strengths. Furthermore, the scale has shown concurrent validity by correlating positively with measures of psychological adjustment, self-esteem, and maturity, and correlating negatively with measures of psychological distress or maladaptive coping mechanisms.

Reliability

The PIES demonstrates excellent internal consistency, a key measure of reliability. Across the eight subscales, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients typically fall within the acceptable to strong range, suggesting that the items within each subscale consistently measure the intended construct. Retesting reliability (test-retest reliability) has also been affirmed in longitudinal studies, indicating that the PIES yields stable scores over time, supporting its use as a consistent measure of enduring personality strengths.

Factor Analysis

Initial factor analysis performed during the scale’s development established the instrument’s fundamental structure. The 64 items load onto eight distinct, but correlated, factors corresponding precisely to the eight ego strengths derived from Erikson’s model. This consistent eight-factor solution provides empirical support for the theoretical underpinning of the PIES, distinguishing it from measures that may conflate or simplify the complex interplay of Eriksonian stages.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report inventory/Psychosocial scale

Format: 64 items, utilizing a 5-point Likert scale ranging from (1) “does not describe me well” to (5) “describes me very well.” Several items are reverse-coded.

Language Available: English (Original)

Population Group: General population, primarily focused on developmental research.

Age Group: Adolescents, young adults, and adults.

Population Details: Originally validated on samples of adolescents and university students.

Test Methodology: Assessment of psychosocial maturity and developmental outcomes using eight distinct subscales.

Keywords

Psychosocial Inventory of Ego Strengths, PIES, Erikson, ego strengths, developmental psychology, psychometric properties, assessment, Hope, Care, Wisdom.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source materials.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source materials.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source materials.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was first published and assessed in 1997. Specific information regarding current licensing fees or explicit academic permissions beyond standard citation practices is not detailed in the source content. Researchers should contact the primary authors for commercial or extensive use permissions. The original PDF describing the scale development can be downloaded here: Markstrom et al., 1997 PDF.

Reference’s

• Markstrom, C., Sabino, V. M., Turner, B., Berman, R. C. (1997). The Psychosocial Inventory of Ego Strengths: Development and assessment of a new Eriksonian Measure. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 26(6): 705-762.

• Marshall, S. K. (1998). Mattering attitudes: Validating the construct. University of Guelph. Ph.D. Dissertation Abstracts International, 59(6), 3121B.

• Markstrom, C.A., Marshall, S.K. (2006). The psychosocial inventory of ego strengths: examination of theory and psychometric properties. J Adolesc, 30(1):63-79.

Items of the Psychosocial Inventory of Ego Strengths (PIES)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. When I love someone I can accept that they might want to pursue some interests without me. (LOVE)

2. I am able to follow through on a task until it’s completed. (WILL)

3. I know I have skills to carry out various tasks and responsibilities important to me. (COMPETENCE)

4. I find I can easily be distracted even when I really need to finish a task. (WILL)*

5. I feel okay with the way I’ve handled my life so far. (WISDOM)

6. I prefer to be free-floating without ha‎ving to worry about commitments to other people or things. (FIDELITY)*

7. I have experienced feelings of love with someone outside of my family. (LOVE)

8. When I think about the future‚ I feel optimistic. (HOPE)

9. When I see someone with a need‚ I help in whatever way I am able. (CARE)

10. I find that my opinions are frequently influenced by others. (FIDELITY)*

11. I really don’t know what strengths or skills I have to offer society. (COMPETENCE)*

12. I can’t seem to forgive myself for a lot of things I’ve done in the past. (WISDOM)*

13. I am involved in a variety of activities that allow me to use my skills and abilities. (COMPETENCE)

14. I don’t think I have really loved anyone outside of my family. (LOVE)*

15. When things don’t go my way‚ I remind myself of the positive things in my life. (HOPE)

16. I really don’t know what I want out of life. (PURPOSE)*

17. When I know someone is ha‎ving a difficult time‚ I really feel concerned about them. (CARE)

18. When I make a commitment to something‚ I stick with it. (FIDELITY)

19. In many ways‚ I have control over my future. (WILL)

20. I don’t pretend to be something that I’m not. (FIDELITY)

21. I really can’t be bothered to help other people. (CARE)*

22. I’m afraid of what might happen to me in the future. (WISDOM)*

23. I don’t like it when someone I love wants to do something with anyone other than me. (LOVE)*

24. I try to pursue my aims even when I have to take risks. (PURPOSE)

25. I hesitate to put much energy into trying to reach my goals. (PURPOSE)*

26. I’m only setting myself up for disappointment by looking forward to things in the future. (HOPE)*

27. I feel like I don’t have control over my life. (WILL)*

28. When I think of my future‚ I see a definite direction for my life. (PURPOSE) 

29. Even when I have opportunity to do things I might be good at‚ I usually can’t get started. (COMPETENCE)*

30. Beyond my closest friends and family‚ I’m not that concerned about the needs of other people. (CARE)*

31. I may have difficult times ahead‚ but I’ll try to face them with courage. (WISDOM)

32. When something doesn’t work out for me‚ I just look forward to doing other things. (HOPE)

33. If there is something I choose to do‚ I am determined to do it. (WILL)

34. When I care about a friend or partner‚ it usually doesn’t lead to a committed relationship. (LOVE)*

35. I have strengths that enable me to be effective in certain situations. (COMPETENCE)

36. Sometimes I feel as if I can’t control my behavior. (WILL)*

37. I believe in being true to myself and others. (FIDELITY)

38. When I am in a close relationship with someone‚ I tend to lose sight of my interests and goals. (LOVE)*

39. No matter how bad things get‚ I am confident they will get better. (HOPE)

40. Fear keeps me from striving for many of my goals. (PURPOSE)*

41. I’m not really sure what I believe in. (FIDELITY)*

42. When I feel really down‚ I have a hard time believing that things are going to get better. (HOPE)*

43. When I reflect on the past‚ I feel sadness and regret. (WISDOM)*

44. I don’t care about things anymore because they usually don’t work out anyway. (HOPE)*

45. I am able to set realistic goals for myself. (PURPOSE)

46. Even when someone I don’t know that well asks me for advice‚ I take the time to try to help. (CARE)

47. I’ve got enough of my own problems that it is hard to worry about other people’s problems. (CARE)*

48. I have trouble accepting a particular purpose or role in life. (FIDELITY)*

49. I’m not afraid of what the future has in store for me. (WISDOM)

50. I don’t look forward to the future. (WISDOM)*

51. I hardly ever initiate activities; I usually follow the crowd. (PURPOSE)*

52. It is difficult for me to ignore the pain of others. (CARE)

53. I stand up for the people and causes that are important to me. (FIDELITY)

54. It doesn’t matter what I do‚ it’s not going to change anything. (WILL)*

55. I don’t have time to deal with other people’s problems. (CARE)*

56. I can accept the fact that I’ve made mistakes in my life. (WISDOM)

57. When I love someone such as a friend or partner‚ we are equally committed to one another. (LOVE)

58. When something doesn’t work out the way I had hoped‚ it makes me feel like just quitting everything. (HOPE)*

59. I like to work to make things happen. (COMPETENCE)

60. My friends and I believe we can disagree on things and still be friends. (LOVE)

61. Most people just seem more capable than me. (COMPETENCE)*

62. Even though I’m sometimes afraid of failing‚ if there’s something I want to do I try to do it. (PURPOSE)

63. I’m usually able to resist when I’m tempted to do something that’s not in my best interest. (WILL)

64. I avoid tasks that might require much of my time and energy. (COMPETENCE)*

* reverse coded