Hierarchical classification and the integration of self-structure in late adolescence

Abstract

A number of empirical studies have demonstrated that one's self-concept is multidimensional in nature, varies according to social context, and shows increased differentiation throughout adolescence. There has been relatively less work, however, examining the integration of multi-dimensional social selves. Rosenberg and Gara's (1985) model of the multidimensional self (a model that utilizes a statistical procedure called "hierarchical classification" or HICLAS) was employed to investigate the integration of social selves during late adolescence. First-and fourth-year college students (n = 128) completed a computer program designed to collect data required to construct HICLAS "self-structures." The findings indicated that the social selves of fourth-year college students were more related conceptually and were more differentiated than the social selves of first-year students. The differences between first-and fourth-year students suggested that hierarchical classification procedures could be used to address developmental hypotheses.

Life Span Theory in Developmental Psychology

“…Marsh et al, 2002). In contrast, there is evidence that the self-structure becomes more integrated again and that self-complexity increases between 18 and 22 years of age (Elbogen et al, 2001). For the age range from 20 to 88 years, cross-sectional findings indicate an U-shaped relationship between self-concept integration and age (Diehl et al, 2001).…”

Responding to Societal Devaluation: Effects of Perceived Personal and Group Discrimination on the Ethnic Group Identification and Personal Self-Esteem of Latino/Latina Adolescents

“…Late adolescents and adults may not use this strategy because of add-itional cognitive developments (e.g. the ability to integrate inconsistencies in identities; Elbogen, Carlo, & Spaulding, 2001;Harter & Monsour, 1992) and greater exposure to a shared system of understanding that uses ethnicity as a means of social categorization. Such developmental processes need to be further explored in examinations of the impact of perceived discrimination on ingroup identifi cation and personal self-esteem among adolescents.…”

Perception of self and other in psychosis: A method for analyzing the structure of the phenomenology

“…Indeed, the notion of “self” is fluid and changes with age, dramatically in adolescence (Elbogen, Carlo & Spaulding, 2001), and of course in illness (e.g., major depression; Gara, Woolfolk, Cohen, Goldston, Allen & Novalany, 1993). A HICLAS study in a sample of patients with schizophrenia concluded that they had a “poorly elaborated view of self” (p.253; Gara, Rosenberg & Mueller, 1989).…”

“…HICLAS is based on a set theoretical model which simultaneously computes hierarchical relationships between targets and features, and their associative relationships. It has been shown to reveal useful insights in the perception of self and other in major depression (Gara et al, 1993) and in schizophrenia (Gara et al, 1989), and in delusional misidentification syndrome (de Bonis et al, 1994), as well as in the integration of self-structure in late adolescence (Elbogen et al, 2001), and in examining semantic concepts in general (Storms et al, 1994). …”