Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
07:20
Observing the Transformation of Bodily Self-consciousness in the Squeeze-machine Experiment
Published on: March 8, 2019
Compartmentalization and integration: the evaluative organization of contextualized selves
Carolin J Showers1, Virgil Zeigler-Hill
1University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA. cshowers@ou.edu
Journal of Personality
|November 13, 2007
Summary
This review explores how people organize their self-knowledge. While compartmentalized selves may boost self-esteem, integrative selves offer greater psychological stability and resilience.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Personality Psychology
Background:
- The evaluative organization of self-knowledge can be compartmentalized (distinct positive/negative selves) or integrative (mixed attributes per self).
- These self-organization styles are linked to mood, self-esteem, and coping mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review research on evaluative self-organization.
- To explore the implications of self-structure organization for self-esteem stability, coping, and psychopathology.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on evaluative self-organization.
- Analysis of findings linking self-structure types to psychological outcomes.
Main Results:
- Compartmentalized self-structures, often linked with high self-esteem, may be unstable.
- Integrative self-structures, characterized by moderate self-views, are associated with greater stability and resilience.
- Integrative self-organization may facilitate coping with stress and reduce psychopathology.
Conclusions:
- The way individuals organize their self-knowledge significantly impacts psychological well-being.
- Integrative self-organization appears to be a more stable and adaptive strategy than compartmentalized self-organization.
- Understanding self-structure organization is crucial for psychological treatment and resilience building.
Related Concept Videos
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
01:30Social Foundations of Self III: Self-Evaluation
Self-evaluation is the process by which individuals assess their abilities, behaviors, and characteristics based on feedback from others. Charles H. Cooley observed that a person’s self-perception is primarily influenced by how others see and judge them. He suggested that individuals form their identities based on their interpretations of others' reactions. As a result, social interactions play a crucial role in shaping self-esteem and personal identity. These external evaluations often blend...
02:57The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...
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...
01:27Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison
Social comparison plays a fundamental role in the evaluation of personal success and self-worth. Rather than assessing our achievements in isolation, we interpret their significance relative to personal goals and critically in comparison to the performance of others. A grade of B in a mathematics exam might elicit pride if one's expectation was a C, yet result in disappointment if an A was anticipated or if peers achieved superior results. These comparative evaluations illustrate how both...
01:30Self Within Cultural Contexts
Cultural frameworks for understanding the self are often categorized into two broad orientations: individualism and collectivism. These paradigms influence how people define themselves, relate to others, and interpret their social worlds. Each orientation offers distinct perspectives on autonomy, responsibility, and the role of the individual within a community.Individualistic CulturesIn individualistic cultures like North America and Western Europe, identity is understood as autonomous and...