CENTRE FOR RESEARCH ON SELF AND IDENTITY

Theoretical Orientation

The Centre for Research on Self and Identity (CRSI) aims to coordinate and facilitate research on self and identity. The CRSI advocates two broad principles. One is theory-based research. The activities of the Centre promote the testing, evaluation, and revision of theory on the basis of empirical findings. The second principle pertains to theory-based applications of research findings. The Centre aspires to transform empirical knowledge into interventions that will benefit society (i.e., improving interpersonal relationships, boosting psychological and physical health, enhancing the quality of intra-group and inter-group communication).

The CRSI provides the infra-structure to support research along four broad themes: Identity, Self-Evaluation, Self-Esteem, and Self and Health.

Theme 1: Identity

Individuals seek to achieve identity (i.e., self-definition) in terms of their personal traits (personal self), their dyadic relationships (relational self), and their group membership (collective self). These self-representations co-exist within the same person. In particular, the personal self contains those aspects of the self-concept that differentiate the individual from others. These are aspects that are unique to the individual. The relational self contains those aspects of the self-concept that connect the individual with significant others. The relational self is based on personalized bonds of attachment. Such bonds include friendships, romantic relationships, and parent-child relationships. The collective self contains those aspects of the self-concept that differentiate the group member from members of relevant outgroups. The collective self is usually based on rather impersonal bonds derived from common (and often-times symbolic) belongingness to a group. These bonds do not require close relationships among group members.

Research foci by core CRSI members include the fragility versus robustness of narcissistic self-esteem (Aiden Gregg), the interpersonal implications of different attachment styles (Kathy Carnelley), the feelings of superiority in close relationships (Tim Wildschut), the quest for identity and existential meaning through nostalgia (Denise Baden, Constantine Sedikides, Tim Wildschut), the way in which the personal self leads to the formation of a collective self (Tim Wildschut), and the synergistic relation between the personal and relational selves (Michelle Luke, Constantine Sedikides).

Theme 2: Self-Evaluation

Given that individuals live in a social environment, they give feedback to others and receive feedback from them on a daily basis. What kind of self-relevant information do individuals pursue and select? There is growing evidence that individuals pursue and select positive rather than accurate self-relevant information. Of course, the desire for positive information is often times contingent on contextual factors. Members of the Centre ask questions about the conditions under which individuals pursue positive information and about the strategies that individuals use to ward off negative feedback.

What is the role of self-conscious emotions in the self-evaluation process (Tim Wildschut)? Can relational attachments provide a psychological A security blanket@ for the self in cases of threat (Kathy Carnelley)? Can self-defence occur at the pre-conscious level (Aiden Gregg)? What is the role of attachment styles (e.g., being fearful versus dismissive) in determining reactions to feedback from a romantic partner (Kathy Carnelley)? Do individuals remember negative information poorly when it pertains to them than others (Constantine Sedikides)?

Theme 3: Self-Esteem

Self-esteem refers to one=s liking or disliking of the self. Members of the CRSI are interested in self-esteem from several angles. How do significant others influence self-esteem (Kathy Carnelley)? Is self-esteem heritable (Constantine Sedikides)? Under what conditions does concern for procedural fairness influence organizational self-esteem (Denise Baden)? Can self-esteem be measured at an implicit level (Aiden Gregg)?

Theme 4: Self and Health

The issue of whether and how the self increases psychological and physical health has received empirical attention recently. Several CRSI members have lines of research that are pertinent to this issue. How does the self facilitate effective responses to bereavement (Kathy Carnelley)? Do narcissists have poor psychological health (Aiden Gregg, Constantine Sedikides)? How do spiritual beliefs of bereaved spouses help the healing process (Peter Coleman)? Is nostalgic engagement associated with improved psychological health (Denise Baden, Constantine Sedikides, Tim Wildschut)?

Sample of Recent Publications by CRSI Members

In print

Sedikides, C., Gaertner, L., & Vevea, J. (2005). Pancultural self-enhancement reloaded: A meta-analytic reply to Heine (2005). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 89, 539-551.

De Cremer, D., & Sedikides, C. (2005). Self-uncertainty and responsiveness to procedural justice. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 41, 157-173.

Green, J. D., Pinter, B., & Sedikides, C. (2005). Mnemic neglect and self-threat: Trait modifiability moderates self-protection. European Journal of Social Psychology, 35, 225-235.

Kumashiro, M., & Sedikides, C. (2005). Taking on board liability-focused feedback: Close positive relationships as a self-bolstering resource. Psychological Science, 16, 732-739.

Neiss, M. B., Stevenson, J., Sedikides, C., Kumashiro, M., Finkel, E., J., & Rusbult, C. E. (2005). Executive self, self-esteem, and negative affectivity: Relations at the phenotypic and genotypic level. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 89, 593-606.

Wildschut, T., Insko, C. A., & Pinter, B. (2004). The perception of outgroup threat: Content and activation of the outgroup schema. In V. Yzerbyt, C. M. Judd, & O. Corneille (Eds.), The psychology of group perception (pp. 335-359). Philadelphia, PA: Psychology Press.

Sedikides, C., Rudich, E.A., Gregg, A. P., Kumashiro, M., & Rusbult, C. (2004). Are normal narcissists psychologically healthy?: Self- esteem matters. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87, 400-416.

Luke, M. A., Maio, G.R., & Carnelley, K. B. (2004). Attachment models of the self and others:Relations with self-esteem, humanity- esteem, and parental treatment. Personal Relationships, 11, 281-303.

Sedikides, C., & Green, J. D. (2004). What I don't recall can't hurt me: Information negativity versus information inconsistency as determinants of memorial self-defense. Social Cognition, 22, 4-29.

Gramzow, R. H., Sedikides, C., Panter, A. T., Sathy,V., Harris, J.,& Insko, C. A. (2004). Patterns of self-regulation and the Big Five. European Journal of Personality, 18, 367-385.

Green, J. A., & Sedikides, C. (2004). Retrieval selectivity in the processing of self-referent information: Testing the boundaries of self-protection. Self and Identity, 3, 69-80.

Wildschut, T., Pinter, B., Vevea, J. L., Insko, C. A., & Schopler, J. (2003). Beyond the group mind: A quantitative review of the interindividual-intergroup discontinuity effect. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 698-722.

Sedikides, C., Gaertner, L., & Toguchi, Y. (2003). Pancultural self-enhancement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 60-70.

Abelson, R. P., Frey, K. P., & Gregg, A. P. (2003). Experiments with people: Revelations from social psychology. New York: Erlbaum.

Gregg, A. P. (2003). Optimally conceptualizing implicit self-esteem. Psychological Inquiry, 14, 35-37.

Maio, G. R., Olson, J. M., Bernard, M., & Luke, M. A. (2003). Ideologies, values, attitudes, and behavior. In J.D. DeLamater (Ed.), Handbook of social psychology (pp. 283-308). New York: Kluwer-Plenum.