Self-Identity as Measured by the Frequencies of Independent, Collective, and Relational Self-Construals
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Authors
Messenger, Marci L.
Issue Date
2004
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the self-concept and identity of college-age
male and female students using the definition of self-construal, defined by Markus and
Kitayama (1991) that is one's understanding ofhow much he or she is connected to
others. These researchers defined the self using two self-construals: The interdependent
self-construal and independent self-construal. In an interdependent self-construal,
relationships with others are central in one's self-definition and behavior. The self based
around the independent and autonomous self is the independent self-construal.
Researchers want to expand the knowledge on construals of the self by evaluating the
possibility of a third self-construal, the relational self-construal, as termed by Brewer and
Gardner ( 1996). The measurement of self-concept through the self-construals will be
found by coding Gordon's "Identity Classification Scheme" of eight different categories
into the three desired categories of this study: the Independent self-construal, Collective
self-construal, and Relational self-construal. Markus and Kitayama noted that the type of
self-construal may have a large influence on one's experiences and actions. Cross and
Madson (1997a) stated that differences in self-construals between genders could explain
differences in personality, development, and behavior. Researchers in the present study
hypothesize that women will show more relational thoughts than men while the male
participants will display more independent and collective thoughts than the females. No
significant differences were found among the interaction of gender and type of selfconstrual.
Description
vi, 18 p.
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