title: Self-Concept Structure and the Quality of Self-Knowledge.
abstract: This article explores the hidden vulnerability of individuals with compartmentalized self-concept structures by linking research on self-organization to related models of self-functioning. Across three studies, college students completed self-descriptive card sorts as a measure of self-concept structure and either the Contingencies of Self-Worth Scale, Likert ratings of perceived authenticity of self-aspects, or a response latency measure of self-esteem accessibility. In all, there were 382 participants (247 females; 77% White, 6% Hispanic, 5% Black, 5% Asian, 4% Native American, and 3% other). Consistent with their unstable self-evaluations, compartmentalized individuals report greater contingencies of self-worth and describe their experience of multiple self-aspects as less authentic than do individuals with integrative self-organization. Compartmentalized individuals also make global self-evaluations more slowly than do integrative individuals. Together with previous findings on self-clarity, these results suggest that compartmentalized individuals may experience difficulties in how they know the self, whereas individuals with integrative self-organization may display greater continuity and evaluative consistency across self-aspects, with easier access to evaluative self-knowledge.
authors.affiliation: University of Oklahoma.
authors.forename: Carolin J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Showers
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas.
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Ditzfeld
authors.affiliation: Oakland University.
authors.forename: Virgil
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zeigler-Hill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012649:Self Concept; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult