Social-Cognitive Aspects of Identity Style

This investigation examined the relationship between identity style and various social-cognitive dispositions: need for cognition, openness to experience, and introspection. Identity style refers to the manner in which individuals characteristically process self-relevant information, solve personal problems, and negotiate identity issues. A maximum likelihood factor analysis indicated that self-reported use of a cogitative information-oriented style loaded on two factors. One was marked by information-seeking variables, the other by self-reflective tendencies. A normative style loaded negatively on a bipolarfactor defined by openness to values and actions, suggesting that norm-oriented itndividuals tend to protect themselves from potentially dissonant experience and information. Reported use of a diffuse/avoidant style was associated with a heightened emphasis on a social identity, indicating a reliance on immediate social reinforcements. Results are discussed in terms of a process model of identity formation.

[1]  S. Bem.  The measurement of psychological androgyny. , 1974, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[2]  J. Cacioppo,et al.  The need for cognition. , 1982 .

[3]  Lisa M. Larson,et al.  Cognitive Variables Associated with Personal Problem-Solving Appraisal: Implications for Counseling. , 1983 .

[4]  S. Briggs,et al.  SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS AND ASPECTS OF IDENTITY , 1982 .

[5]  D. Mechanic,et al.  Introspectiveness and adolescent development , 1986, Journal of youth and adolescence.

[6]  M. Berzonsky.  Identity Style , 1989, Beyond the Supersquare.

[7]  D. Lapsley,et al.  Self, ego, and identity : integrative approaches , 1988 .

[8]  T. K. Srull,et al.  Handbook of Social Cognition , 1993 .

[9]  J. Melgosa.  Development and validation of the occupational identity scale. , 1987, Journal of adolescence.

[10]  P. Baltes,et al.  Life Span Development and Behavior , 1978 .

[11]  R. McCrae.  Creativity, divergent thinking, and openness to experience. , 1987 .

[12]  M. Berzonsky.  Self-Theorists, Identity Status, and Social Cognition , 1988 .

[13]  K. Cameron,et al.  Openness to Experience and Development of Adult Identity , 1987 .

[14]  S. Whitbourne,et al.  Openness to experience, identity flexibility, and life change in adults. , 1986, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[15]  B. R. Schlenker,et al.  The Self and social life , 1987 .

[16]  P. Costa,et al.  Openness to experience and ego level in Loevinger's Sentence Completion Test: Dispositional contributions to developmental models of personality. , 1980 .

[17]  J. Cacioppo,et al.  Effects of need for cognition on message evaluation, recall, and persuasion. , 1983 .

[18]  P. Costa,et al.  Objective Personality Assessment , 1978 .

[19]  C. F. Kao,et al.  The efficient assessment of need for cognition. , 1984, Journal of personality assessment.

[20]  J. Marcia.  Development and validation of ego-identity status. , 1966, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[21]  H. Grotevant,et al.  Development of an objective measure to assess ego identity in adolescence: Validation and replication , 1984, Journal of youth and adolescence.