Abstract
Based on a structural model of self-conception, this paper proposes a theory of personal consistency. This theory emphasizes certain parameters from distributions of identities in a meaning space (defined by personal attributes) and for an identity-salience dimension (reflecting the importance of an identity for self-definition). It is proposed that the clustering of identities on the salience dimension (when identities in the cluster are relatively salient) and the relative lack of clustering of identities in meaning space have beneficial outcomes for individuals (particularly in terms of perceived power, activity and well-being) by increasing potential and opportunity for complex responses to social stimuli, and thus the total reward value of interaction. Some initial empirical evidence is offered in support of the theory, and implications of the findings are discussed.
Keywords
Salience (neuroscience)Social psychologyPsychologySocial identity theorySalientMeaning (existential)Consistency (knowledge bases)Personal identityEmpirical researchIdentity (music)Dimension (graph theory)Social identity approachEpistemologyCognitive psychologySelf-conceptSocial groupMathematicsComputer scienceArtificial intelligence
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Publication Info
- Year
- 1985
- Type
- article
- Volume
- 48
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 118-118
- Citations
- 30
- Access
- Closed
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Cite This
Jon W. Hoelter
(1985).
A Structural Theory of Personal Consistency.
Social Psychology Quarterly
, 48
(2)
, 118-118.
https://doi.org/10.2307/3033607
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.2307/3033607