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 process of modernization and validation (see Van der Gaag & Kunnen, 2026), resulting in the GIDS-L3. The purpose of the GIDS-L3 is to provide a comprehensive and quantifiable representation of an individual's identity by assessing domain-specific and overarching identity commitments in various areas of life, and measuring characteristics such as the strength and utility of these commitments, as well as the exploratory processes and emotions accompanying 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 an individual's identity. At the same time, it assesses quantitative characteristics of identity, allowing for comparisons between individuals.