Nonconformity defines the self: the role of minority opinion status in self-concept clarity.
Drawing on distinctiveness and social identity theories, the present studies tested whether minority opinion holders would have a more clearly defined sense of self than majority opinion holders. In Study 1, participants who were induced to believe that they held a minority opinion on a controversial issue had higher subsequent self-concept clarity scores than did those who were induced to believe that they held a majority opinion, controlling for self-esteem. Furthermore, the relationship between minority opinion status and self-concept clarity was strongest among participants whose opinions were highly expressive of their values (Studies 2 and 3), as well as among participants who identified strongly with the group in which they were a minority (Study 3). Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.
Morrison
Kimberly Rios
KR
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA. morrison.396@osu.edu
Wheeler
S Christian
SC
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012106:Research; D012649:Self Concept; D012925:Social Conformity; D012933:Social Identification; D012945:Social Values