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Wired for coherence: a network theory of self
Arshiya Aggarwal1, Brent L Hughes1
1Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|July 21, 2026
Summary
The self is a dynamic network of interconnected self-aspects. This causal network model explains how we maintain a stable sense of self despite life changes, promoting psychological coherence and well-being.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Individuals exhibit personal change across situations and life events.
- Maintaining a stable sense of self is a fundamental human experience.
- Understanding self-stability requires examining the interplay of identities, traits, values, and memories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel framework for understanding the stability of the self.
- To explain how different self-aspects interact and change over time.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying self-coherence and psychological well-being.
Main Methods:
- Conceptualizing the self as a dynamic causal network of self-aspects.
- Modeling the influence of beliefs on the interconnections between self-aspects.
- Analyzing how network coherence is maintained or restored following disruption.
Main Results:
- The self is represented as a network where self-aspects are causally linked by beliefs.
- Coherence is achieved through alignment of activated self-aspects with beliefs and context.
- Disruptions lead to coherence restoration via activation shifts or structural reorganization.
Conclusions:
- The dynamic causal network model offers a distinct perspective on self-stability.
- Directional dependencies within the network constrain change and preserve self-structure.
- Modifying network connections among self-aspects can enhance coherence and well-being.
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