Specific and individuated death reflection fosters identity integration

Identity integration is the process wherein a person assimilates multiple or conflicting identities (e.g., beliefs, values, needs) into a coherent, unified self-concept. Three experiments examined whether contemplating mortality in a specific and individuated manner (i.e., via the death reflection m...

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Main Authors: Blackie, Laura E.R., Cozzolino, Philip, J., Sedikides, Constantine
Format: Article
Published: Public Library of Science 2016
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44537/
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author Blackie, Laura E.R.
Cozzolino, Philip, J.
Sedikides, Constantine
author_facet Blackie, Laura E.R.
Cozzolino, Philip, J.
Sedikides, Constantine
author_sort Blackie, Laura E.R.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Identity integration is the process wherein a person assimilates multiple or conflicting identities (e.g., beliefs, values, needs) into a coherent, unified self-concept. Three experiments examined whether contemplating mortality in a specific and individuated manner (i.e., via the death reflection manipulation) facilitated outcomes indicative of identity integration. Participants in the death reflection condition (vs. control conditions) considered positive and negative life experiences as equally important in shaping their current identity (Experiment 1), regarded self-serving values and other-serving values as equally important life principles (Experiment 2), and were equally motivated to pursue growth-oriented and security-oriented needs (Experiment 3). Death reflection motivates individuals to integrate conflicting aspects of their identity into a coherent self-concept. Given that identity integration is associated with higher well-being, the findings have implications for understanding the psychological benefits of existential contemplation.
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spelling nottingham-445372020-05-04T17:52:54Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44537/ Specific and individuated death reflection fosters identity integration Blackie, Laura E.R. Cozzolino, Philip, J. Sedikides, Constantine Identity integration is the process wherein a person assimilates multiple or conflicting identities (e.g., beliefs, values, needs) into a coherent, unified self-concept. Three experiments examined whether contemplating mortality in a specific and individuated manner (i.e., via the death reflection manipulation) facilitated outcomes indicative of identity integration. Participants in the death reflection condition (vs. control conditions) considered positive and negative life experiences as equally important in shaping their current identity (Experiment 1), regarded self-serving values and other-serving values as equally important life principles (Experiment 2), and were equally motivated to pursue growth-oriented and security-oriented needs (Experiment 3). Death reflection motivates individuals to integrate conflicting aspects of their identity into a coherent self-concept. Given that identity integration is associated with higher well-being, the findings have implications for understanding the psychological benefits of existential contemplation. Public Library of Science 2016-05-06 Article PeerReviewed Blackie, Laura E.R., Cozzolino, Philip, J. and Sedikides, Constantine (2016) Specific and individuated death reflection fosters identity integration. PLoS ONE, 11 (5). e0154873/1-e0154873/17. ISSN 1932-6203 http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0154873 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0154873 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0154873
spellingShingle Blackie, Laura E.R.
Cozzolino, Philip, J.
Sedikides, Constantine
Specific and individuated death reflection fosters identity integration
title Specific and individuated death reflection fosters identity integration
title_full Specific and individuated death reflection fosters identity integration
title_fullStr Specific and individuated death reflection fosters identity integration
title_full_unstemmed Specific and individuated death reflection fosters identity integration
title_short Specific and individuated death reflection fosters identity integration
title_sort specific and individuated death reflection fosters identity integration
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44537/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44537/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/44537/