Groningen Identity Development Scale: Landscape version 3

The Groningen Identity Development Scale (GIDS) is a semi-structured identity interview that has been in use since 1985. It has recently undergone a thorough modernization and validation (van der Gaag & Kunnen, 2026), resulting in the GIDS-L3. The aim of the GIDS-L3 is to provide a comprehensive and quantifiable representation of an individual's identity by mapping domain-specific and overarching identity commitments across various areas of life. In doing so, it measures characteristics such as the strength and utility of the commitments, as well as the exploration process and the emotions associated with them. By combining a domain-specific approach to identity with an integrative approach, the GIDS offers a unique perspective on the idiosyncratic content and organization of the individual's identity. At the same time, the GIDS captures quantitative characteristics of identity, enabling comparisons between individuals.