Specific and individuated death reflection fosters identity integration
Specific and individuated death reflection fosters identity integration
Identity integration is the process wherein a person assimilates multiple or conflicting identities (e.g., beliefs, values, needs) into a coherent, unified self-concept. Three experiments examined whether contemplating mortality in a specific and individuated manner (i.e., via the death reflection manipulation) facilitated outcomes indicative of identity integration. Participants in the death reflection condition (vs. control conditions) considered positive and negative life experiences as equally important in shaping their current identity (Experiment 1), regarded self-serving values and other-serving values as equally important life principles (Experiment 2), and were equally motivated to pursue growth-oriented and security-oriented needs (Experiment 3). Death reflection motivates individuals to integrate conflicting aspects of their identity into a coherent self-concept. Given that identity integration is associated with higher well-being, the findings have implications for understanding the psychological benefits of existential contemplation.
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Blackie, Laura E.R.
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Cozzolino, Philip J.
ccbf622f-7e05-4d7a-b131-cb44ce6ba17b
Sedikides, Constantine
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6 May 2016
Blackie, Laura E.R.
26ab5279-e94c-4468-870d-0b4efc9de75c
Cozzolino, Philip J.
ccbf622f-7e05-4d7a-b131-cb44ce6ba17b
Sedikides, Constantine
9d45e66d-75bb-44de-87d7-21fd553812c2
Blackie, Laura E.R., Cozzolino, Philip J. and Sedikides, Constantine
(2016)
Specific and individuated death reflection fosters identity integration.
PLoS ONE, 11 (5), , [e0154873].
(doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0154873).
Abstract
Identity integration is the process wherein a person assimilates multiple or conflicting identities (e.g., beliefs, values, needs) into a coherent, unified self-concept. Three experiments examined whether contemplating mortality in a specific and individuated manner (i.e., via the death reflection manipulation) facilitated outcomes indicative of identity integration. Participants in the death reflection condition (vs. control conditions) considered positive and negative life experiences as equally important in shaping their current identity (Experiment 1), regarded self-serving values and other-serving values as equally important life principles (Experiment 2), and were equally motivated to pursue growth-oriented and security-oriented needs (Experiment 3). Death reflection motivates individuals to integrate conflicting aspects of their identity into a coherent self-concept. Given that identity integration is associated with higher well-being, the findings have implications for understanding the psychological benefits of existential contemplation.
Text
2016 Blackie, Cozzolino, & Sedikides, PLoS One
- Accepted Manuscript
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journal.pone.0154873
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Accepted/In Press date: 21 April 2016
Published date: 6 May 2016
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 393349
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/393349
ISSN: 1932-6203
PURE UUID: 21252568-c075-437f-a203-3e1cb282522e
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Date deposited: 26 Apr 2016 08:55
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:02
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Author:
Laura E.R. Blackie
Author:
Philip J. Cozzolino
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