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Identity processes and identity content valences: Examining bidirectionality.
Shogo Hihara1, Tomotaka Umemura1, Yasuhiro Iwasa2
1Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University.
Developmental Psychology
|December 20, 2021
Summary
Emerging adults
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Developmental Science
Background:
- Identity development is a crucial psychosocial task for adolescents and emerging adults.
- Existing research often focuses on identity processes (exploration, commitment) rather than content.
- Understanding identity content within sociocultural contexts is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bidirectional associations between identity processes and identity content valences.
- To examine how positive and negative identity elements interact with identity exploration and commitment.
- To analyze these associations in Japanese emerging adults.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study with three measurement waves.
- Participants: 2,313 Japanese emerging adults (Mage = 20.43).
- Statistical analyses: Cross-lagged panel analysis and random-intercept cross-lagged panel analysis.
Main Results:
- Commitment making negatively predicted negative identity elements.
- Identification with commitment positively predicted positive identity elements.
- Positive identity elements predicted identification with commitment only when negative identity elements were low; negative identity elements predicted commitment processes.
Conclusions:
- Identity development involves interplay between identity processes and content valences within sociocultural contexts.
- Associations between identity processes and content are primarily observed at the between-person level.
- Findings underscore the importance of social interactions in shaping identity content and processes.
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