Bringing Identity Content to the Fore: Links to Identity Development Processes

Abstract

In the present study we examined the role of identity content in relation to identity processes in a sample of college-going emerging adults (n = 255). Participants reported eight narratives each (n = 2040 narratives) in response to prompts for specific identity content domains (occupation, values, politics, religion, family, romance, friends, sex roles), and completed survey measures of identity exploration and commitment. Narratives were coded for content and meaning-making. In general, participants reported the content requested, but were less likely to do so in certain domains (e.g., religion) than others (e.g., family). Identity processes varied by content domain, suggesting that identity contents may require different forms of processing. Results reveal the importance of examining identity content for a fuller understanding of identity development.

Longitudinal Associations of Identity Processing Styles With Prodiversity and Proequality Values in Adolescence

“…Besides considering how individuals approach identity‐relevant information and explore their identity options (i.e., the process of identity development), it is also important to take into account what identity choices they make (i.e., the content of identity), as emphasized by the process‐content approach to identity (e.g., Berzonsky, ; Duriez, Luyckx, Soenens, & Berzonsky, ; McLean, Syed, & Shucard, ). Values are generally thought to be among the main issues considered when building one's identity (Berzonsky, ; Duriez et al., ; Erikson, ; McLean et al., ). As trans‐situational goals that motivate action (Schwartz, ), values are important for the self‐regulatory function of identity.…”

The Struggle to Find Meaning: A Mixed Methodology Study on Meaning-Making and Identity

“…For this, we examined whether there is a difference in identity processes among emerging adults based on their level of meaning-making. Considering the theoretical and empirical work mentioned before (McLean & Pratt, 2006;McLean et al, 2016), we expected, based on meaningmaking level, to find differences in exploration processes (i.e., exploration in breadth, exploration in depth, and ruminative exploration) but not in commitment processes (i.e., commitment making, identification with commitment). We expected to depict the strongest links between meaningmaking and ruminative exploration, as participants' tendencies to invest more effort in integrating the stressful event of disengaging from a personal important goal with the larger beliefs of self, reflect their difficulties in settling on satisfying answers to personally important issues.…”

Exploring Individual Differences in the Relationship Between Cultural Identity Processes and Well-Being

“…Because individuals assign varying degrees of importance to their ethnic and U.S. identities (McLean et al, 2016; Meca et al, 2015), theories of cultural identity have often highlighted the critical role that identity centrality plays in understanding the differential implications of cultural identity on social interactions and daily experiences (Sellers et al, 1998). Indeed, scholars have argued that it is not merely whether one lays claim to a particular identity or group membership (U.S. or ethnic group), but rather whether or not one’s group identity or membership is psychologically internalized as providing one’s life with purpose and meaning, that confers positive psychosocial benefits (Jetten et al, 2015).…”