Self-integrity and experiential fluency as unique cues to subjective authenticity

Abstract

Despite its enduring cultural appeal, personal authenticity remains a conceptually elusive construct in psychological science. In this chapter, we introduce the Integrity–Fluency Model (IFM) of subjective authenticity, a novel framework that organizes the experience of authenticity around two distinct psychological cues: self-integrity and experiential fluency. Self-integrity refers to the reflective perception that one’s actions align with core values and other aspects of identity that one deeply care about, whereas experiential fluency refers to the felt ease, spontaneity, and naturalness of self-expression. We argue that these cues are orthogonal, each capable of independently or interactively fostering the experience of authenticity. Drawing from diverse literatures, we propose that subjective authenticity is a multifaceted experience influenced by the relative contribution of these two cues. The IFM provides a generative framework for understanding how individuals come to feel authentic across varying contexts, and it opens new avenues for measurement development, empirical inquiry, and cross-cultural examination.

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ORCID for Constantine Sedikides: orcid.org/0000-0003-4036-889X

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