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Compartmentalization and Integration: The Evaluative Organization of Contextualized Selves
Author(s) -
Showers Carolin J.,
ZeiglerHill Virgil
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of personality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.082
H-Index - 144
eISSN - 1467-6494
pISSN - 0022-3506
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2007.00472.x
Subject(s) - psychology , coping (psychology) , compartmentalization (fire protection) , social psychology , self esteem , self concept , mood , psychopathology , psychological resilience , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , biochemistry , chemistry , enzyme
This article reviews research on the evaluative organization (compartmentalized or integrative) of contextualized selves. Evaluatively compartmentalized self‐structures consist of multiple selves, each of which is either mostly positive or mostly negative. Evaluatively integrative self‐structures represent each self with a mixture of positive and negative attributes. These different styles of organizing self‐knowledge have been linked to current mood and self‐esteem. More recently, studies of evaluative organization have examined self‐esteem stability, coping styles (e.g., self‐enhancement or resilience), change in self‐organization, as well as psychopathology and psychological treatment. Findings suggest that compartmentalized self‐structures, typically associated with the highest levels of self‐esteem, may be vulnerable to instability. In contrast, the more moderate self‐views of individuals with integrative self‐structures may offer greater stability, increased resilience, and a means of coping with extreme stress.