Identity-in-context is not yet identity development-in-context

In this discussion, we summarize the main aspects of the research presented in the papers and discuss what we see as their strong points. To analyze recent developments in identity research, we compared the present issue with the special issue of the Journal of Adolescence in 1996 on ‘Identity Development in Context’. In that issue it was concluded that further research is necessary to “detail the ways in which contextual variables may interact both with one another as well as with individual personality variables to determine the course of the identity formation process”.In the papers in this issue, the influence of the context has received much more attention than 20 years ago. However, they still have serious limitations with regard to the study of the developmental process. Not more than one study uses a longitudinal design. To stimulate research into developmental processes we conclude with a plea for longitudinal studies over long periods, with enough measurement points to distinguish between different patterns, and for more conceptual attention for what identity development is about.