Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026
05:58
Digital Handwriting Analysis of Characters in Chinese Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: March 10, 2021
4.9K
Thinking styles and identity development among Chinese university students
1Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong. lfzhang@hkucc.hku.hk
The American Journal of Psychology
|May 31, 2008
Summary
Thinking styles significantly influence identity development in Chinese students. Understanding these cognitive patterns is key for educators to support students
Area of Science:
- Educational Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Student development is influenced by cognitive processes.
- Understanding the interplay between thinking styles and identity is crucial for educational interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between thinking styles and identity development.
- To determine if thinking styles predict identity development in Chinese students.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Thinking Styles Inventory-Revised (based on Sternberg's theory).
- Employed the Erwin Identity Scale-III (grounded in Chickering's theory).
- Surveyed students from Shanghai, China.
Main Results:
- A strong association was found between thinking styles and identity development.
- Thinking styles demonstrated predictive power for identity development.
- Results align with and extend existing literature on student development.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive approaches (thinking styles) are integral to psychosocial development (identity).
- Collaborative efforts between faculty and student development professionals are recommended.
- Fostering holistic student development requires integrating cognitive and psychosocial support.
Related Concept Videos
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
5.9K
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...
5.9K
01:27Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
409
Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...
409
01:23Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
787
Adolescence is a pivotal period of identity formation, during which individuals begin to answer questions central to their sense of self, such as "Who am I?" and "Who do I hope to become?" Both parents and peers play critical roles in guiding adolescents through this complex developmental phase.
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
787
01:21Role-Based Identity
296
Role-based identities are central to understanding how individuals navigate social environments by adopting distinct self-conceptions aligned with various societal roles. These identities are not fixed traits but are constructed through personal actions and the social feedback individuals receive in context-specific interactions. Each social role, such as student, teacher, or friend, carries a set of expectations and norms that influence how people think, feel, and behave within that...
296
01:29Social Identity
470
Social identity constitutes a significant aspect of an individual’s self-concept, shaped by membership in various social groups, including gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and political affiliation. Individuals associate specific traits with particular social groups, leading to internalization of these traits. For example, musicians are often perceived as creative, while women are frequently associated with nurturing tendencies. Once individuals identify with a...
470
01:26Self-Esteem and Culture
305
Self-esteem, a core psychological construct, is intricately shaped by cultural context and varies significantly between collectivist and individualistic societies. In collectivist cultures such as Japan, self-esteem tends to be flexible, context-sensitive, and influenced by relationships. A Japanese student, for instance, may show restraint in formal settings like school but behave more openly among close friends, reflecting the flexible and dynamic nature of self-concept in such...
305