Family ties: Exploring the influence of family legacy on self and identity

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn three studies we introduce the idea of the family legacy – shared practices, beliefs, and other psychological materials within a family that are passed on from one generation to another – and examine its role in shaping individuals’ self and identity. In three quasi-experimental studies, we compare students who have had family attend the university (legacy) to those who have not (non-legacy) on identity-relevant variables. In Study 1a, legacy (vs. non-legacy) participants had stronger university identification. Study 1b replicated and extended this finding, showing that legacy participants’ increased identification predicts feelings of family connectedness and self-continuity. Legacy participants were also more likely to express familial reasons for attending college, as indicated by word count analyses. In Study 2, legacy (vs. non-legacy) participants had more university-related experiences in the past which mediated the effect of legacy on increased identification, and in turn, explained their stronger connectedness and continuity. These findings are discussed in the framework of shared reality theory and open the door for future research examining how identity processes are influenced by family ties.