Self-concept clarity lays the foundation for self-continuity: The restorative function of autobiographical memory.

Abstract

The current research concerns the relations among self-concept clarity, autobiographic memory, and self-continuity. We hypothesized, and tested in 7 studies, that low self-concept clarity would disrupt self-continuity, but resorting to autobiographic memory would counter this disruption, thus restoring self-continuity. In Studies 1 and 2, low or threatened self-concept clarity was associated with decreased, or led to a decrease of, self-continuity. In Study 3, participants low (vs. high) in self-concept clarity manifested a stronger preference for an autobiographical memory task (but not for a control task). In Study 4, a suppressed mediational model of autobiographical memory received empirical backing: Threatened self-concept clarity decreased self-continuity, but also increased the propensity to evoke autobiographical memory, which fostered self-continuity. By manipulating autobiographical memory in different ways, Studies 5 through 7 provided additional direct evidence for the capacity of autobiographical memory to restore self-continuity. Taken together, the results converge in support of the hypothesis.

“This is not life, this is just vegetation”—Lived experiences of long‐term care in Europe's largest psychiatric home: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

“…In LTC patients’ quality of life (QoL) decreases 92 and autonomy and personal bonding 93 are weakened 60 as a result of increased deprivation 49 . This can lead to institutionalization 59 and hospitalization 40,94 of patients, both of which are a challenge to the continuity of self 61,95 . We found that under these circumstances two selves emerge.…”

Do interpreting artists follow the way of self-actualization?

“…Self-concept clarity—a central variable for this study—is associated with well-being and adaptive functioning because it contributes to a proper estimation of efforts in goal-directed behavior, appropriate planning, and accurate insight (DeMarree & Bobrowski, 2017; Light, 2017). Moreover, it also contributes to a sense of continuity (Jiang et al, 2019) and personality development (Lodi-Smith & Crocetti, 2017), and it implies coherence between the actual and the ideal self (DeMarree & Rios, 2014). Numerous researchers indicate that individuals who score low on the Self-Concept Clarity Scale do not function optimally (for an overview, see Lodi-Smith & DeMarree, 2017).…”

Awe fosters global self-continuity: The mediating effect of global processing and narrative.

“…Past-to-present self-continuity and present-to-future self-continuity have been found to be positively associated and have similar development trends over the whole life span (Rutt & Löckenhoff, 2016; Sokol & Eisenheim, 2016). Without a sense of connectedness with their past, people would find it difficult to project their present self into the future and feel connected with their future self (Iyer et al, 2008; Jiang et al, 2020, 2022). Thus, an integrative understanding of self-continuity is needed.…”