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Navigating the path to authenticity: identity processes across various life domains
Dominika Karaś1, Jarosław Jastrzębski1, Zuzanna Szewczyk1
1Institute of Psychology, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, Warsaw, Poland.
Current Issues in Personality Psychology
|July 24, 2026
Summary
Resolving identity dilemmas through commitment fosters authenticity. However, deep exploration can sometimes lead to self-alienation, impacting authentic living across different life domains.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Authenticity involves internal coherence and self-fidelity, potentially arising from resolved identity dilemmas.
- This study explores the connection between identity development and authenticity across various life domains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the identity-based foundations of authenticity.
- To examine how identity processes in different life domains influence authenticity.
Main Methods:
- 562 individuals (18-36 years) completed measures of authenticity and identity management across four domains.
- Utilized structural modeling to analyze relationships between identity commitment, exploration, reconsideration, and authenticity.
Main Results:
- Identity commitment positively predicted authentic living.
- Reconsideration of commitment was linked to lower authenticity.
- In-depth exploration had mixed effects, negatively impacting authenticity in most domains while promoting self-alienation.
Conclusions:
- Identity processes across different life spheres are crucial for developing authenticity.
- Understanding these domain-specific identity dynamics is key to fostering authentic living.
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