Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
08:56
Clinical Assessment of Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Patients and Older Adults
Published on: November 7, 2014
Methodological comment: temporal stability of older person's spontaneous self-definition
1Max Planck Institute of Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Germany. Freund@mpib-berlin.mpg.de
Experimental Aging Research
|May 24, 2001
Summary
Self-definition measures like the "Who am I?" test show low temporal stability in older adults. This suggests these tests may capture situation-specific variability rather than stable self-concept aspects.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Gerontology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Open-ended self-definition tasks, such as the "Who am I?" and Twenty Statement Test, are face-valid for assessing self-concept content and dimensions.
- Theoretical perspectives suggest that measures of the self might better capture intraindividual variability compared to traditional personality tests.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the short-term temporal stability of self-definition using the "Who am I?" measure in older adults.
- To compare the temporal stability of self-definition with that of personality measures.
Main Methods:
- Employed free-response and card-sort versions of the "Who am I?" task.
- Participants (N = 104, aged 69-92) completed the task twice over an 8-week period.
- Personality measures were also administered to assess stability.
Main Results:
- Found low temporal stability of self-definition at both intraindividual and interindividual levels.
- In contrast, personality measures exhibited high temporal stability over the same period.
- The "Who am I?" measure demonstrated low test-retest reliability for stable self-definition content.
Conclusions:
- The "Who am I?" task may not be optimal for assessing stable self-definition content across time and situations.
- This measure might be more suitable for evaluating situation-related variability in self-perception.
- Findings highlight the dynamic nature of self-definition in older adults over short timeframes.
More Related Videos
11:21Methodology for Establishing a Community-Wide Life Laboratory for Capturing Unobtrusive and Continuous Remote Activity and Health Data
Published on: July 27, 2018
04:13Using a Real-Time Locating System to Measure Walking Activity Associated with Wandering Behaviors Among Institutionalized Older Adults
Published on: February 8, 2019
Related Concept Videos
02:20Longitudinal Research
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
02:16Self-Schemas
In general, a schema is a mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts (Bartlett, 1932). There are many different types of schemata, and they all have one thing in common: schemata are a method of organizing information that allows the brain to work more efficiently. When a schema is activated, the brain makes immediate assumptions about the person or object being observed.
01:20Understanding Self-Concept
The self-concept encompasses individuals' beliefs about themselves, structured through cognitive frameworks known as self-schemas. These schemas function as mental representations of specific traits or behaviors, influencing how self-relevant information is perceived, processed, and remembered. For example, individuals who are schematic for body weight are more likely to interpret routine experiences—such as dining out or shopping—through the lens of that trait. Conversely, those aschematic for...
01:24Strategies of Self-Presentation III: Self-Monitoring
Self-monitoring is a central construct in understanding individual differences in self-presentation strategies across social contexts. It refers to how individuals observe, regulate, and control their expressive behavior and self-presentation following situational cues. Self-monitoring reflects a person's sensitivity to social appropriateness and willingness to adapt behavior to fit varying interpersonal demands.High vs. Low Self-Monitoring IndividualsIndividuals high in self-monitoring are...
01:29Introspection
Introspection, long upheld as a reliable route to self-knowledge, involves examining one's thoughts, emotions, and mental processes. It underpins many psychological practices, from mindfulness meditation to psychotherapy and self-help strategies. However, empirical evidence challenges the accuracy of introspection as a means of understanding oneself.Limitations of Introspective InsightSeminal work by Nisbett and Wilson demonstrated that individuals are frequently unaware of the true causes...
01:28Self-Esteem
Self-esteem, a core aspect of psychological well-being, reflects an individual's positive and negative self-evaluation in terms of worth, competence, and overall value. It is both a stable trait and a dynamic process, influenced by experiences and social interactions across the lifespan. While global self-esteem offers a general assessment, research highlights that self-esteem is multidimensional and varies across specific life domains.Domain-Specific Self-EsteemResearchers have delineated...