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Identity Styles and Interpersonal Behavior in Emerging Adulthood: The Intervening Role of Empathy
Author(s) -
Smits Ilse,
Doumen Sarah,
Luyckx Koen,
Duriez Bart,
Goossens Luc
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
social development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.078
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1467-9507
pISSN - 0961-205X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9507.2010.00595.x
Subject(s) - psychology , empathy , prosocial behavior , normative , interpersonal communication , aggression , social psychology , style (visual arts) , developmental psychology , interpersonal relationship , identity (music) , philosophy , archaeology , epistemology , history , physics , acoustics
This study examined the intervening role of empathy in the relations between identity styles (i.e., information‐oriented, normative, and diffuse‐avoidant styles), and inter‐personal behaviors (i.e., prosocial behavior, self‐ and other‐oriented helping, and physical and relational aggression). In a sample of 341 emerging adults, it was found that an information‐oriented style relates to a more adaptive pattern of interpersonal behaviors whereas a normative or a diffuse‐avoidant identity style relate to a more maladaptive pattern of interpersonal behaviors. Empathy played an intervening role between the information‐oriented style and interpersonal behavior, and between the diffuse‐avoidant style and interpersonal behavior. However, empathy did not intervene between the normative style and interpersonal behavior. Implications for future research are discussed.