An identity consolidation view of social phenomena, theory and research

Abstract

This thesis provides a theoretical rationale and empirical support for identity consolidation theory. The main contention of identity consolidation theory is that a powerful motivator, that drives a diverse array of enigmatic social phenomena, is the need for individuals to quell the intrapsychic conflict that arises from the unique human predicament of choice. Choice can be problematic for humans because the capacity for abstract, future oriented thought creates the potential for primary conflict among the imagined action alternatives, and secondary conflict among the priorities, values, and "possible selves" that individuals use as arbiters for choosing among the action alternatives. As such, the adaptive adaptive advantage of planned action comes at the price of potentially paralyzing psychic conflict (Lewin, 1935) and dissonance (Festinger, 1957).

According to identity consolidation theory, some of the most passionate and often irrational social behaviors derive their incentive value from their ability to quell the potential for psychic conflict inherent in the human condition. Religions, relationships, and success strivings, for example, each can be seen as providing multifaceted solutions to the fundamental predicament of choice. The dissonance-reduction mechanisms by which these, and other phenomena, contribute to eight identity consolidation strategies areas are explicated.

As well as providing an overarching explanatory theory for understanding social phenomena, identity consolidation theory also holds promise for integrating a number of prominent social psychological theories, from a perspective that is rooted in Festinger's seminal theory of cognitive dissonance. In particular, the present thesis proposes, and provides some evidence for the contention, that need for belongingness (Baumeister & Leary, 1995), "terror management" in response to mortality salience (Greenberg, Solomon, & Pyszczynski, 1997), self-affirmation (Steele, 1988), distress arising from "deliberative mindset" (Taylor & Gollwitzer, 1995), authoritarianism (Altemeyer, 1994), closed-mindedness (Rokeach, 1960), the quest for meaningfulness in one's goal pursuits and life (Baumeister, 1991b; McGregor & Little, 1998), and personality integration (Kasser & Ryan, 1993, 1996; Sheldon & Kasser, 1995; Sheldon, Ryan, Rawsthorne, & Ilardi, 1997) at least in part represent identity consolidation strategies.

In five experiments, dissonance was induced via three identity confrontation manipulations that expose self-relevant inconsistencies - temporal extension, mortality salience, and dilemma deliberation. In Experiment 1, the temporal extension manipulation of identity confrontation caused dissonance and more punitive reactions toward a social-deviant/outgroup member. In Experiment 2, the temporal extension and mortality salience identity confrontation manipulations caused dissonance and intergroup ias. Experiment 3 shows that the results of the first two experiments can not be accounted for by terror management theory (Greenberg, Solomon, & Pyszczynski, 1997) because the temporal extension manipulation did not prime death thoughts.

In Experiment 4, the dilemma deliberation identity confrontation manipulation caused dissonance and hardening of attitudes about social issues (i.e., more conviction, more perceived social consensus, and less ambivalence). Furthermore, hardening of the attitudes effectively reduced dissonance to baseline levels. Also, providing participants with an identity-repair exercise after the dilemma deliberation exercise reduced their dissonance to baseline levels, and eliminated attitude hardening. The identity-repair exercise involved depicting one's past actions and future plans as being consistent with an important personal value. The identity-repair finding suggests that the identity consolidation strategy of integration can reduce dissonance and preempt more rigid identity consolidation strategies.

In Experiment 5, temporal extension and mortality salience identity confrontation manipulations caused changes in the personal goals that participants intended on pursuing over the next few weeks, and the way they framed their identities. After identity confrontation, participants intended on engaging in personal projects that were more important, self-defining, and consistent with their core values (exemplifying the identity consolidation strategy of integration). Their identities also became more communal in theme (exemplifying the identity consolidation strategies of relationships and integration). This finding suggests that participants will use whatever identity consolidation strategy is most readily available to them. It also suggests that one way to reduce potentially maladaptive over reliance on rigid identity consolidation strategies (such as the Experiments 1, 2, and 4 extremism) might be to make integration opportunities available and accessible.