Self-complexity and the sense of identity
Keywords:
self-complexity; self-concept differentiation; self-concept consistency; sense of identity; self-esteem
Abstract
The article presents an attempt at an empirical analysis of the relation between self-concept differentiation and the sense of identity. Patricia Linville’s concept of self-complexity and a multidimensional approach to the sense of identity have been used. The hypothesized relations of these structural characteristics of personality with self-esteem have been analyzed as well. Research results indicate no connections of self-complexity with the sense of consistency, stability, separateness, accessibility of identity content, or self-esteem. However, cluster analysis revealed the presence of three groups with characteristic combinations of identity and self-complexity dimensions as well as different self-esteem levels. The psychological significance of these differences is discussed.
References
Barczak, A., Besta, T., & Bazińska, R. (2007). Model złożoności Ja w ujęciu Patricii Linville: Predykcje teoretyczne i pomiar. Psychologia Jakości Życia, 6(1), 57-76.
Batory, A. (2008). Tożsamość złożonego Ja. In P. Oleś, & A. Batory (Eds.), Tożsamość i jej przemiany a kultura (pp. 279-309). Lublin: Wydawnictwo KUL.
Berzonsky, M. D. (2003). Identity style and well-being: Does commitment matter? Identity, 3, 131-142.
Block, J. (1961). Ego identity, role variability and adjustment. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 25(5), 392-397.
Brown, G., & Rafaeli, E. (2007). Components of self-complexity as buffers for depressed mood. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly, 21(4), 310-333.
Brygoła, E. (2012). Struktura tożsamości osobistej i jej podatność na zmiany pod wpływem modyfikacji samooceny. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Lublin: The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin.
Campbell, J. D., Assanand, S., & Di Paula, A. (2004). Cechy strukturalne pojęcia Ja a przystosowanie. In A. Tesser, R. B., Felson, & J. M. Suls (Eds.), Ja i tożsamość. Perspektywa psychologiczna (pp. 70-88). Gdańsk: Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne.
Campbell, J. D., Chew, B., & Scratchley, S. (1991). Cognitive and emotional reactions to daily events: The effects of self-esteem and self-complexity. Journal of Personality, 59(3), 473-505.
Constantino, M. J., Wilson, K. R., Horowitz, L. M., & Pinel, E. C. (2006). The direct and stress-buffering effects of self organisation on psychological adjustment. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 25(3), 333-360.
Cramer, Ph. (2001). Identification and its relation to identity development. Journal of Personality, 69(5), 667-687.
Donahue, E., Robins, R., Roberts, B., & John, O. (1993). The divided self: Concurrent and longitudinal effects of psychological adjustment and social role of self-concept differentiation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 64(5), 134-146.
Epstein, S. (1973). The self-concept revised: Or a theory of a theory. American Psychologist, 28(5), 404-416.
Erikson, E. (2004). Tożsamość a cykl życia. Poznań: Wydawnictwo Zysk i S-ka.
Fecenec, D. (2008). Wielowymiarowy Kwestionariusz Samooceny MSEI (polska adaptacja). Warsaw: Pracownia Testów Psychologicznych.
Hermans, H. J. (1996). Voicing the self: From information processing to dialogical interchange. Psychological Bulletin, 119(1), 31-50.
James, W. (1890). The principles of psychology. New York: Holt & Co.
Jarymowicz, M. (1989). Próba konceptualizacji pojęcia „tożsamość”: Spostrzegana odrębność jako atrybut własnej tożsamości. Przegląd Psychologiczny, 32(3), 655-671.
Jarymowicz, M. (2000). Psychologia tożsamości. In J. Strelau (Ed.), Psychologia. Podręcznik akademicki (pp. 107-125). Gdańsk: Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne.
Jordan, A., & Cole, D. A. (1996). Relation of depressive symptoms to the structure of self-know-ledge in childhood. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 105(4), 4530-4540.
Koch, E., & Shepperd, J. (2004). Is self-complexity linked to better coping? A review of the literature. Journal of Personality, 93(4), 727-760.
Kroger, J. (2003). What transits in an identity status transition? An International Journal of Theory and Research, 3(3), 197-220.
Linville, P. (1985). Self-complexity and affective extremity: Don’t put all your eggs in one cognitive basket. Social Cognition, 3(1), 94-120.
Linville, P. (1987). Self-complexity as a cognitive buffer against stress-related illness and depression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(4), 663-676.
Luo, W., & Watkins, D. (2008). Claifying the measurement of a self structural process: The case of self complexity. International Journal of Testing, 8(2), 143-165.
Luo, W., Watkins, D., & Lam, R. (2009). Validating a new measure of self-complexity. Journal of Personality Assessment, 91(4), 381-386.
Lutz, C. J., & Ross, S. (2003). Elaboration versus fragmentation: Distinguishing between self-complexity and self-concept differentiation. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 22(5), 537-559.
Majczyna, M. (1999). Podmiotowość a tożsamość. In D. Gałdowa (Ed.), Tożsamość człowieka (pp. 35-53). Cracow: Wydawnictwo UJ.
Mandrosz-Wróblewska, J. (1988). Tożsamość i niespójność Ja a poszukiwanie własnej odrębności. Wrocław: Ossolineum.
Marcia, J. E. (1966). Development and validation of ego-identity status. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 3(5), 551-558.
Markus, H. (1977). Self-schemata and processing information about the self. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 35(2), 63-78.
McAdams, D. P. (1996). Personality, modernity and the storied self: A contemporary framework for studying persons. Psychological Inquiry, 7(4), 295-321.
Morgan, H. J., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (1994). Positive and negative self-complexity: Patterns of adjustment following traumatic versus non-traumatic life experiences. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 13(1), 63-85.
Obuchowski, K. (2000). Człowiek intencjonalny, czyli o tym, jak być sobą. Poznań: Dom Wydawniczy REBIS.
Oleś, P. K. (2008). O różnych rodzajach tożsamości oraz ich stałości i zmianie. In P. Oleś, & A. Batory (Eds.), Tożsamość i jej przemiany a kultura (pp. 41-85). Lublin: Wydawnictwo KUL.
Pilarska, A. (2012). Wielowymiarowy Kwestionariusz Tożsamości. In W. J. Paluchowski, L. Kaczmarek, P. Hałaziński, & A. Bujacz (Eds.), Nowoczesne metody badawcze w psychologii (pp. 167-188). Poznań: Wydawnictwo Naukowe WNS UAM.
Rafaeli-Mor, E., & Steinberg, J. (2002). Self-complexity and well-being: A review and research synthesis. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 6(1), 31-58.
Roberts, B. (2007). Contextualizing personality psychology. Journal of Personality, 75(6), 1072-1081.
Schachter, E. P. (2002). Identity constraints: The perceived structural requirements of a “good” identity. Human Development, 45(6), 416-443.
Schleicher, D. J., & McConnel, A. R. (2005). The complexity of self-complexity: An associated system theory approach. Social Cognition, 23(5), 387-416.
Schwartz, S., Forthun, L. F., Ravert, R., D. [et al.] (2010). Identity consolidation and health risk behaviors in college students. American Journal of Health Behavior, 34(2), 214-224.
Sheldon, K. M., & Emmons, R. A. (1995). Comparing differentiation and integration within person goal systems. Personality and Individual Differences, 18(1), 39-46.
Smith, H. S., & Cohen, L. H. (1993). Self-complexity and reactions to a relationship breakup. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 12(4), 367-384.
Sneed, J. R., & Whitbourne, S. K. (2003). Identity processing and self-consciousness in middle and later adulthood. The Journal of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 58(6), 313-319.
Sokolik, M. (1996). Psychoanaliza i Ja. Warsaw: Santorski & Co.
Stryker, S. (2007). Identity theory and personality theory: Mutual relevance. Journal of Personality, 75(6), 1083-1102.
Styła, R., Jankowski K., & Suszek, H. (2010). Skala niespójności Ja (SN-Ja). Studia Psychologiczne, 48(2), 31-43.
Suchańska, A., & Ligocka, M. (2011). Inklinacja narracyjna a złożoność Ja i tożsamość. Studia Psychologiczne, 49(2), 19-34.
Suszek, H. (2007). Różnorodność wielości Ja. Roczniki Psychologiczne, 10(1), 8-37.
Woolfolk, R. L., Novalany, J., Gara, M. A., Allen, L. A., & Polino, M. (1995). Self-complexity, self-evaluation and depression: An examination of form and content within the self-schemata. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68(6), 1108-1112.
Batory, A. (2008). Tożsamość złożonego Ja. In P. Oleś, & A. Batory (Eds.), Tożsamość i jej przemiany a kultura (pp. 279-309). Lublin: Wydawnictwo KUL.
Berzonsky, M. D. (2003). Identity style and well-being: Does commitment matter? Identity, 3, 131-142.
Block, J. (1961). Ego identity, role variability and adjustment. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 25(5), 392-397.
Brown, G., & Rafaeli, E. (2007). Components of self-complexity as buffers for depressed mood. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly, 21(4), 310-333.
Brygoła, E. (2012). Struktura tożsamości osobistej i jej podatność na zmiany pod wpływem modyfikacji samooceny. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Lublin: The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin.
Campbell, J. D., Assanand, S., & Di Paula, A. (2004). Cechy strukturalne pojęcia Ja a przystosowanie. In A. Tesser, R. B., Felson, & J. M. Suls (Eds.), Ja i tożsamość. Perspektywa psychologiczna (pp. 70-88). Gdańsk: Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne.
Campbell, J. D., Chew, B., & Scratchley, S. (1991). Cognitive and emotional reactions to daily events: The effects of self-esteem and self-complexity. Journal of Personality, 59(3), 473-505.
Constantino, M. J., Wilson, K. R., Horowitz, L. M., & Pinel, E. C. (2006). The direct and stress-buffering effects of self organisation on psychological adjustment. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 25(3), 333-360.
Cramer, Ph. (2001). Identification and its relation to identity development. Journal of Personality, 69(5), 667-687.
Donahue, E., Robins, R., Roberts, B., & John, O. (1993). The divided self: Concurrent and longitudinal effects of psychological adjustment and social role of self-concept differentiation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 64(5), 134-146.
Epstein, S. (1973). The self-concept revised: Or a theory of a theory. American Psychologist, 28(5), 404-416.
Erikson, E. (2004). Tożsamość a cykl życia. Poznań: Wydawnictwo Zysk i S-ka.
Fecenec, D. (2008). Wielowymiarowy Kwestionariusz Samooceny MSEI (polska adaptacja). Warsaw: Pracownia Testów Psychologicznych.
Hermans, H. J. (1996). Voicing the self: From information processing to dialogical interchange. Psychological Bulletin, 119(1), 31-50.
James, W. (1890). The principles of psychology. New York: Holt & Co.
Jarymowicz, M. (1989). Próba konceptualizacji pojęcia „tożsamość”: Spostrzegana odrębność jako atrybut własnej tożsamości. Przegląd Psychologiczny, 32(3), 655-671.
Jarymowicz, M. (2000). Psychologia tożsamości. In J. Strelau (Ed.), Psychologia. Podręcznik akademicki (pp. 107-125). Gdańsk: Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne.
Jordan, A., & Cole, D. A. (1996). Relation of depressive symptoms to the structure of self-know-ledge in childhood. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 105(4), 4530-4540.
Koch, E., & Shepperd, J. (2004). Is self-complexity linked to better coping? A review of the literature. Journal of Personality, 93(4), 727-760.
Kroger, J. (2003). What transits in an identity status transition? An International Journal of Theory and Research, 3(3), 197-220.
Linville, P. (1985). Self-complexity and affective extremity: Don’t put all your eggs in one cognitive basket. Social Cognition, 3(1), 94-120.
Linville, P. (1987). Self-complexity as a cognitive buffer against stress-related illness and depression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(4), 663-676.
Luo, W., & Watkins, D. (2008). Claifying the measurement of a self structural process: The case of self complexity. International Journal of Testing, 8(2), 143-165.
Luo, W., Watkins, D., & Lam, R. (2009). Validating a new measure of self-complexity. Journal of Personality Assessment, 91(4), 381-386.
Lutz, C. J., & Ross, S. (2003). Elaboration versus fragmentation: Distinguishing between self-complexity and self-concept differentiation. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 22(5), 537-559.
Majczyna, M. (1999). Podmiotowość a tożsamość. In D. Gałdowa (Ed.), Tożsamość człowieka (pp. 35-53). Cracow: Wydawnictwo UJ.
Mandrosz-Wróblewska, J. (1988). Tożsamość i niespójność Ja a poszukiwanie własnej odrębności. Wrocław: Ossolineum.
Marcia, J. E. (1966). Development and validation of ego-identity status. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 3(5), 551-558.
Markus, H. (1977). Self-schemata and processing information about the self. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 35(2), 63-78.
McAdams, D. P. (1996). Personality, modernity and the storied self: A contemporary framework for studying persons. Psychological Inquiry, 7(4), 295-321.
Morgan, H. J., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (1994). Positive and negative self-complexity: Patterns of adjustment following traumatic versus non-traumatic life experiences. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 13(1), 63-85.
Obuchowski, K. (2000). Człowiek intencjonalny, czyli o tym, jak być sobą. Poznań: Dom Wydawniczy REBIS.
Oleś, P. K. (2008). O różnych rodzajach tożsamości oraz ich stałości i zmianie. In P. Oleś, & A. Batory (Eds.), Tożsamość i jej przemiany a kultura (pp. 41-85). Lublin: Wydawnictwo KUL.
Pilarska, A. (2012). Wielowymiarowy Kwestionariusz Tożsamości. In W. J. Paluchowski, L. Kaczmarek, P. Hałaziński, & A. Bujacz (Eds.), Nowoczesne metody badawcze w psychologii (pp. 167-188). Poznań: Wydawnictwo Naukowe WNS UAM.
Rafaeli-Mor, E., & Steinberg, J. (2002). Self-complexity and well-being: A review and research synthesis. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 6(1), 31-58.
Roberts, B. (2007). Contextualizing personality psychology. Journal of Personality, 75(6), 1072-1081.
Schachter, E. P. (2002). Identity constraints: The perceived structural requirements of a “good” identity. Human Development, 45(6), 416-443.
Schleicher, D. J., & McConnel, A. R. (2005). The complexity of self-complexity: An associated system theory approach. Social Cognition, 23(5), 387-416.
Schwartz, S., Forthun, L. F., Ravert, R., D. [et al.] (2010). Identity consolidation and health risk behaviors in college students. American Journal of Health Behavior, 34(2), 214-224.
Sheldon, K. M., & Emmons, R. A. (1995). Comparing differentiation and integration within person goal systems. Personality and Individual Differences, 18(1), 39-46.
Smith, H. S., & Cohen, L. H. (1993). Self-complexity and reactions to a relationship breakup. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 12(4), 367-384.
Sneed, J. R., & Whitbourne, S. K. (2003). Identity processing and self-consciousness in middle and later adulthood. The Journal of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 58(6), 313-319.
Sokolik, M. (1996). Psychoanaliza i Ja. Warsaw: Santorski & Co.
Stryker, S. (2007). Identity theory and personality theory: Mutual relevance. Journal of Personality, 75(6), 1083-1102.
Styła, R., Jankowski K., & Suszek, H. (2010). Skala niespójności Ja (SN-Ja). Studia Psychologiczne, 48(2), 31-43.
Suchańska, A., & Ligocka, M. (2011). Inklinacja narracyjna a złożoność Ja i tożsamość. Studia Psychologiczne, 49(2), 19-34.
Suszek, H. (2007). Różnorodność wielości Ja. Roczniki Psychologiczne, 10(1), 8-37.
Woolfolk, R. L., Novalany, J., Gara, M. A., Allen, L. A., & Polino, M. (1995). Self-complexity, self-evaluation and depression: An examination of form and content within the self-schemata. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68(6), 1108-1112.
Published
2019-04-04
Issue
Section
Articles
Copyright (c) 2013 Roczniki Psychologiczne
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
