Thine own self: True self-concept accessibility and meaning in life

Schlegel, Rebecca J.; Hicks, Joshua A.; Arndt, Jamie; King, Laura A.

doi:10.1037/a0014060

Cited by 367Psychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionIdentity, Memory, and TherapyPersonality Traits and Psychology

Thine own self: True self-concept accessibility and meaning in life

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Schlegel, Rebecca J., Hicks, Joshua A., Arndt, Jamie, King, Laura A.·2009·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

DOI 10.1037/a0014060PMC PMC4714566

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Abstract

A number of philosophical and psychological theories suggest the true self is an important contributor to well-being. The present research examined whether the cognitive accessibility of the true self-concept would predict the experience of meaning in life. To ensure that any observed effects were due to the true self-concept rather than to the self-concept more generally, the authors used actual self-concept accessibility as a control variable in all studies. True and actual self-concepts were defined as including those traits that are enacted around close others vs. most others (Studies 1 through 3) or as traits that refer to "who you really are" vs. "who you are during most of your activities" (Studies 4 and 5), respectively. Studies 1, 2, and 4 showed that individual differences in true self-concept accessibility, but not differences in actual self-concept accessibility, predicted meaning in life. Studies 3 and 5 showed that priming traits related to the true self-concept enhanced perceptions of meaning in life. Implications for the study of the true self-concept and authenticity are discussed.

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Meaning in Life and the True Self: A Construal Level Theory Approach
Needy, L. M. (2021) · BearWorks (Missouri State University)

Authors: Schlegel, R. J., Hicks, J. A., Arndt, J., & King, L. A.
Affiliations: University of Missouri (US)
ORCID: Schlegel, Rebecca J.
Hicks, Joshua A.
King, Laura A.
Venue: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2009
Volume: 96
Issue: 2
Pages: 473-490
ISSN: 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
1939-1315
DOI: 10.1037/a0014060
PMC: PMC4714566
OpenAlex: W1974054520
Cited by: 367
References: 78
Citations by year: 2026: 16 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 15
FWCI: 14.74
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Locations: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (T32-AA13526)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
Keywords: meaning in life, authenticity, well-being, close relationships, self-perception
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adult, Cognition, Existentialism, Female, Humans, Male, Self Concept, Young Adult

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Thine own self: True self-concept accessibility and meaning in life

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