[Self concept and ideal self concept in the Giessen Test of students in East and West Germany]

We report about a comparative study on epidemiological and psychological variables in two samples of students in the German universities of Göttingen (West Germany) and Halle (East Germany) from April 1991 (n = 438). We expected specific differences in the answers due to the differing socialization and actual life stress. In this paper we present results on self images and ideal self images, measured with the Giessen-Test. East- and West German students in general have similar self images in the GT-scales. There are significant differences between the study fields, suggesting a higher correlation between personality variables and subject of studies than between personality and country. In some gender specific items women in Halle show a tendency towards a more traditional gender role concept (less competition, importance of attractiveness). Men in East Germany compared to the western students emphasized freedom from anxiety and walling off. The ideal self image in the west is characterized by wishes for more sociability and less competition. In the east there is a tendency towards wishes for autonomy and control. The significant differences in gender specific items and in the ideal self image are discussed under aspects of socialization and actual stressors.