The Organization of the Self-Concept (Midterm #1) Flashcards
Self-Complexity
People’s self-concepts differ in:
1. Number of self-aspects
2. Degree to which these self-aspects are distinct from each other
High self-complexity
Many self-aspects that are relatively distinct from each other
Low self-complexity
Few self-aspects that have a high degree of overlap with each other
Affective Spillover
Because of links between self-aspects and spreading activation, emotions associated with one self-aspect will “spillover to other self-aspects”. thus, there will be more affective spillover for people with low self-complexity.
Affect Extremity
Low self-complexity: Greater spillover causes more extreme emotional reactions and changes in self-esteem (In response to both negative and positive life events).
High self-complexity: Less spillover allows for more emotional stability.
Study 1: How does self-complexity affect the relationship between failure and emotional reactions?
Methods: Self-complexity measured via trait sort. Experimental manipulation: Participants given bogus success/failure feedback from analytic task. Current mood and self-esteem assessed. Low self-complexity showed largest change in mood and self-esteem following failure/success feedback. Evidence of spillover and affective extremity.
Study 2: Is low self-complexity also associated with more variation in mood over time?
Method: Field study to look at swings in emotions for 2 weeks. Results: Low self-complexity associated with greater variation in emotion ratings over time.
Self-Complexity as a Stress Buffer
High self-complexity may serve as a buffer against negative consequences of stressful life events. May explain why some people are more resilient in the face of stress.
Study 3: Does high self-complexity protect against the negative health effects of stress?
Method: Measured the following at baseline and again 2 weeks later: self-complexity using trait sort, stressful events experienced by student, indicators of negative health consequences (depression, perceived stress, illness symptoms).
Results: Following stressful events, people high in self-complexity showed less negative effects of stress. Evidence that self-complexity buffers against negative effects of stress.
Why Mixed Evidence of Stress Buffering?
- Differences in well-being measure (dependent variable)
–> Positive effect of self-complexity on mood and emotional stability but more mixed results when measuring self-esteem or depression. - One part of definition of self-complexity is more important than the other (independent variable).
- Integration of self-aspects also matters (having high self-complexity may only be helpful if self-aspects are well-integrated into a clear and coherent sense of self).
Mixed Evidence for Self-Complexity as a Stress Buffer
Review of 24 studies examining buffering effects of self-complexity. 7 studies support stress-buffering hypothesis. 4 found reverse. Rest didn’t show any effect.
Self-Concept Clarity (SCC)
Extent to which the contents of the self-concept are: clearly defined, consistent with each other, stable. Reflects the extent to which you feel like you know who you are.
Self-Complexity vs. SCC
SCC is unrelated to self-complexity.
A person could be high in self-complexity but low in SCC
If they have many different self-aspects but lacking in clarity, consistency, and coherence between these different self-aspects.
A person could be low in self-complexity but high in SCC
Few self-aspects but high degree of clarity, consistency and coherence between these self-aspects.
High SCC is associated with
More emotional stability, less rumination about the self, less loneliness, lower feelings of depression and perceived stress…etc. Suggests that SCC is important for well-being.
SCC and Covid-19 Study
On average, high SCC people experienced fewer negative emotions compared to low SCC people at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. High SCC appears to facilitate more adaptive responses during times of intense uncertainty/stress.
SCC and Role Transitions Study
Do role changes lead to lower SCC? Methods: Collected writing samples from an online forum for new parents. Analyzed and rated writing for:
1. Degree of self-concept confusion
2. Amount of self-concept change
3. Positivity of self-change
Results showed that SCC depends on amount of self-change AND how positive the person feels about the change. For those who felt positively about the role transition, no relationship between amount of self-change and SCC. For those who felt less positive about the role transition, more self-change associated with less SCC (more self-concept confusion).
Implications of Relationship Between SCC and Role Transitions
Role transitions are one factor affecting SCC. Role entires and exits predict lower SCC if person doesn’t feel particularly positively about the way the new role has changed them.
