Abstract
In four experimental studies, we explored the moderating role of perceptions of one’s self as flexible vs. fixed on the relationship between identity conflict, well-being, and self-esteem. Across different contexts, it was demonstrated that representations of self as stable vs. changeable moderated the effect of conflicting identities on well-being and self-esteem. Specifically, the activation of conflicting identities led to a decrease in well-being and self-esteem among those who construed their self as stable, but not among those who adopted flexible representations of self. The results suggest that the net effect of multiple identities depends not only on their compatibility and importance, but also on the way in which one’s self-concept is construed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Self and Identity |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Pages (from-to) | 224-244 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| ISSN | 1529-8868 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 3 Mar 2016 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Identity conflict
- Multiple identities
- Perceptions of self