Self-Concept Clarity: Perspectives on Assessment, Research, and Applications

I.                    Introduction to the volume (DeMarree* & Lodi-Smith*) - This chapter will provide an overview of the goals of the volume with an eye to a brief definition of self-concept clarity and the overarching goal of each chapter to set the current state of the work in that area and future directions for the field

II.                  Self-Concept Clarity: Definitions and Measurement - One of the core concerns with self-concept clarity research is the measurement of the construct and its nomological net. This section will map out current measurement, the placement of self-concept clarity in broader self and identity research, and future directions in measurement and assessment that can further elucidate this positioning.

a.       Defining and measuring self-concept clarity (Jennifer Campbell) - A basic chapter on what self-concept clarity is and how it is traditionally measured with the self-concept clarity scale.

b.      Self-concept clarity and the content of the self in the neosocioanalytic model of personality (Dunlop*) - Dunlop will outline the place of self-concept clarity within the framework of modern conceptions of personality psychology.

c.       Self-concept clarity and self-knowledge (DeMarree*) - DeMarree will examine the place of self-concept clarity in relation to other constructs associated with self-structure such as accessibility, ambivalence, self-awareness, and so forth.

d.      Self-concept clarity and identity certainty (Schwartz*) - Schwartz will address how self-concept clarity relates specifically to Eriksonian constructions of identity certainty.

III.                Why Self-Concept Clarity Matters

a.       Consequences of self-concept clarity for well-being and motivation (Light*) - Light will look at the consequences of self-concept clarity in regards to well-being in general and motivation in particular as well as how low self-concept clarity relates to negative outcomes in various domains.

b.      Self-concept clarity and body image (Vartanian*) - Vartanian would cover the growing literature linking self-concept clarity to body image. This chapter will likely bring in other aspects of mental health as well as specific links to body image is a growing area and while there is evidence linking self-concept clarity to other forms of mental health such as mood disorders, this evidence is scattered across researchers.

c.       Self-concept clarity and clinical populations with a focus on schizophrenia (Cicero*) - Cicero will present the role of self-concept clarity in psychosis and psychotic-like experiences suggesting "a link from self-concept clarity to a long line of research in schizophrenia on anomalous self-experiences and disturbances in self-concept in the development of psychosis." Paired with Vartanian and Light's chapters, these three chapters will aim to comprehensively cover mental health and self-concept clarity.

IV.                Self-Concept Clarity in Context

a.       Sources of self-concept clarity (Hertel*; Van Dijk) - Hertel has proposed a largely theoretical chapter on the sources of self-concept clarity building off of models regarding the development of self-esteem and work in self-concept change and self-verification.

b.      Development of self-concept clarity in adulthood (Lodi-Smith*, Crocetti*, & Wong) - Lodi-Smith & Crocetti would map the developmental patterns of self-concept clarity from adolescence to adulthood based on the existing literature with theoretically grounded hypotheses for future work in this area.

c.      

d.      Self-concept clarity in the workplace (Spain*) - Spain will summarize the existing literature on the role and utility of self-concept clarity within I/O psychology and develop theoretical models for future directions in this area.

e.      Self-concept clarity at the collective/social identity level (Gardner*) - Gardner will examine self-concept clarity at the level of social identity "with a focus on how the clarity and integration of multiple social identities leads to higher well-being as compared to more fragmented or conflicting social identities."

V.                  Conclusions and Future Directions (Lodi-Smith* & DeMarree*)