Strategies for Resolving Identity Problems: “Self-We” and “We-They” Differentiation

Abstract

The study uses both experimental and questionnaire methods to test the relationship between problems of identity arising from self-incongruity and seeking one's own distinctiveness. It is hypothesized that the type of identity problem, either internal (stable and rooted in the person) or external (self-image threatened by new information), is a significant modifying variable. Other modifying variables are the closeness of the object of comparison and the schematicity of dimensions on which comparisons are made. It was found that people with internal identity problems have a greater tendency to differentiate between self and close rather than distant others; people without these problems reveal the opposite tendency. External identity problems are associated with greater tendency to differentiate between the self and distant rather than close others. Regardless of the degree and type of identity problem, the tendency to differentiate between self and others was stronger on schematic than aschematic dimensi...