Self-Concept clarity
Self-concept clarity (Campbell et al., 1996) is a judgment not of the content of identity, as represented by trait ratings or life story narratives, but of the consistency of the self. That is, self-concept clarity is concerned with the degree to which individuals have a clear, well-defined, and stable perception of who they are on a day-to-day basis. My work on this construct demonstrates that while it is concerned with self-consistency; self-concept clarity is itself a meaningful developmental construct that can facilitate a better understanding of the development of the content of identity (Lodi-Smith & Roberts, 2010; Lodi- Smith, Spain, Cologgi, & Roberts, in press).
Specifically, in two independent cross-sectional samples, I demonstrate that self-concept clarity has a curvilinear relationship with age such that it is at its peak in midlife while being lower for young and older adults (Lodi-Smith & Roberts, 2010). My in press work with a longitudinal subset of these samples indicates that self-concept clarity shows substantive patterns of intraindividual variability over time in both individual differences in change and stability (Lodi-Smith et al., in press). My research suggests that these individual differences in self-concept clarity are, at least in part, contingent on psychosocial phenomenon such as socioeconomic status (Na, Chan, Lodi-Smith, & Park, in press) and role limitations due to poor health (Lodi-Smith & Roberts, 2010; Lodi-Smith et al., in press).
Importantly, my work on self-concept clarity challenges theoretical ideas in the personality trait development literature (Roberts et al., 2008) that suggest clarity is a central piece of increasing consistency in personality traits over time. While greater rank-order consistency in traits is normative through midlife and into early late life (Roberts & DelVecchio, 2000; Lucas & Donnellan, 2011), my work suggests that overall level of self-concept clarity is actually related to trait instability over time in the form of distinctiveness in trait profiles and low individual stability in traits. Instead, I demonstrate that, not level, but change in the form of mean-level increases in clarity relates to trait stability over time and is associated with mean-level increases in conscientiousness, emotional stability, and agreeableness (Lodi- Smith et al., in press).
Relevant publications:
Specifically, in two independent cross-sectional samples, I demonstrate that self-concept clarity has a curvilinear relationship with age such that it is at its peak in midlife while being lower for young and older adults (Lodi-Smith & Roberts, 2010). My in press work with a longitudinal subset of these samples indicates that self-concept clarity shows substantive patterns of intraindividual variability over time in both individual differences in change and stability (Lodi-Smith et al., in press). My research suggests that these individual differences in self-concept clarity are, at least in part, contingent on psychosocial phenomenon such as socioeconomic status (Na, Chan, Lodi-Smith, & Park, in press) and role limitations due to poor health (Lodi-Smith & Roberts, 2010; Lodi-Smith et al., in press).
Importantly, my work on self-concept clarity challenges theoretical ideas in the personality trait development literature (Roberts et al., 2008) that suggest clarity is a central piece of increasing consistency in personality traits over time. While greater rank-order consistency in traits is normative through midlife and into early late life (Roberts & DelVecchio, 2000; Lucas & Donnellan, 2011), my work suggests that overall level of self-concept clarity is actually related to trait instability over time in the form of distinctiveness in trait profiles and low individual stability in traits. Instead, I demonstrate that, not level, but change in the form of mean-level increases in clarity relates to trait stability over time and is associated with mean-level increases in conscientiousness, emotional stability, and agreeableness (Lodi- Smith et al., in press).
Relevant publications:
- Lodi-Smith, J, & DeMarree, K.M. Self-Concept Clarity. Forthcoming edited volume. New York: Springer.
- Lodi-Smith, J., Cologgi, K., Spain, S.M., & Roberts, B.W. (in press). Development of identity clarity and content in adulthood. In press at Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
- Na, J., Chan, M.Y., Lodi-Smith, J., & Park, D.C. (in press). Social-class differences in self-concept clarity and their implications for well-being. In press at The Journal of Health Psychology.
- Lodi-Smith, J. & Roberts, B.W. (2010). Getting to know me: Social role experiences mediate the relationship between self-concept clarity and age during adulthood. Journal of Personality, 78, 1383-1410.