Abstract
The purpose of this study was to understand adolescents in terms of individual-based identity and relatedness-based identity. In Study 1, university students answered a questionnaire regarding their identity. Based on an analysis of these data, a scale was constructed consisting of 15 items related to individuality based identity and 13 items related to relatedness based identity. Differentiation of these two aspects of identity was shown to be difficult. In Study 2, university students completed the questionnaire derived from Study 1, and the scale's validity and reliability were confirmed. A semi-structured interview containing questions related to interpersonal relations was conducted with 20 of the participants from Study 2, to clarify differences between the 4 groups of items formed by cluster analysis. The "KJ" (Kawakita Jiro) Method was used to organize the interview data, and revealed 3-5 categories. The results indicated that in individuality based identity one has little assimilation with others, and seeks wide interpersonal relationships. In contrast, in relatedness based identity one perceives oth ers as independent from oneself and has the ability to from intimate relationships.
