What Self-Aspects Appear Significant When Identity Is in Danger? Motives Crucial Under Identity Threat

Abstract

Identity construction is guided by certain motivational goals. A recently presented integrative model by Vignoles, Regalia, Manzi, Golledge, and Scabini (2006; Vignoles, 2011) postulates six fundamental motives: self-esteem, self-efficacy, continuity, distinctiveness, belonging, and meaning. Individuals are motivated to form their identity in accordance with them. Apart from a motivational basis, an actively constructed identity is also influenced by internal dialogical activity (Hermans, 2004), which is a mechanism of shaping internal complexity and dynamics. An experimental study was conducted to verify the crucial role of the key identity motives and dialogicality in a threatening situation. The research showed that losing identity aspects most connected with sense of meaning and self-esteem appeared especially distressing. The results indicated a predominant role of meaning motive and unexpected reaction to continuity threat. Internal dialogical activity was irrelevant for identity threat experience, despite its crucial role in identity dynamics under usual circumstances.

Notes

Questions related to identity structure were eliminated as deemed unnecessary in this study.

In the original study by Vignoles and collaborators (2006) there was an additional anchor in the middle of the scale: 4 = moderately.

There were no significant differences between men and women in positive affect (F(60) =.09, p =.77). Also the interaction between manipulation and gender was insignificant (F (60) =.31, p =.58).

We refer to χ² results, whereas the t-test indicated a statistically significant relationship between sense of continuity and positive affect when identity is endangered (t = 2.22, p =.026; see Table 2).

There were no significant differences between men and women in negative affect (F(60) =.86, p =.36). Also, the interaction between manipulation and gender was insignificant (F(60) =.06, p =.81).

No significant differences between men and women were obtained for sense of identity change (F(60) =.42, p =.52). Also, the interaction between manipulation and gender was insignificant (F(60) =.63, p =.43).