A well-written paper representing the author's doctoral dissertation, this study was based on in-depth evaluations of forty-eight clinical interviews. Utilizing a developmental framework, Josselson defined four identity statuses with respect to achievement of autonomy. There was exploration of the relationship of individuation to object relations, to early psychosexual conflicts and defenses, and to the quality of ego-superego balance. Those women with the greatest freedom from superego restrictions formed the most meaningful identifications. The data suggested that identity in women differed in quality from male identity and was far more punctuated by intimacy considerations.