Identity Theory Paradigm Integration: Assessing the Role of Prominence and Salience in the Verification and Self-Esteem Relationship
ISBN: 978-1-78769-014-1, eISBN: 978-1-78769-013-4
Publication date: 8 October 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper was to empirically integrate the structural and perceptual control programs in the identity theory. This integration involved examining how the structural concepts of prominence and salience moderate the impact that the perceptual control process of nonverification has role-specific self-esteem.
Methodology/approach
We use survey data from normative and counter-normative conditions in the parent and spouse identities to test a series of structural equation models. In each model, we test the direct impacts of prominence, salience, and nonverification on worth, efficacy, and authenticity. We also test interaction effects between prominence and nonverification as well as salience and nonverification on the three self-esteem outcomes.
Findings
Out of the 24 possible interaction effects, only three were significant. By contrast, the expected positive effects of prominence on worth were supported among all identities, while the expected positive effects of salience on self-esteem were supported only among normative identities. Also as expected, the negative effects of nonverification on self-esteem were supported, though most strongly among counter-normative identities.
Practical Implications
Our findings indicate that the structural and perceptual control concepts have independent effects on self-esteem. Thus, future research should incorporate both programs when examining identity processes on self-esteem. However, depending on the normativity or counter-normativity of the identities of interest, research may find it useful to focus on concepts from one program over the other.
Originality/value of Paper
This paper is a test of integration of the two research paradigms in the identity theory, which addresses the micro–macro problem in a unique way.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgments
This research was partially funded by a grant from the University Research Council at Kent State University. The authors would like to thank Kent State as well as Brooke L. Long and Fritz W. Yarrison for their foundational efforts and contributions, which culminated in the collection of the data used in this study. The authors would also like to thank the anonymous reviewer for their helpful comments and suggestions on an earlier draft of this paper.
Citation
Markowski, K.L. and Serpe, R.T. (2018), "Identity Theory Paradigm Integration: Assessing the Role of Prominence and Salience in the Verification and Self-Esteem Relationship", Advances in Group Processes (Advances in Group Processes, Vol. 35), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 75-102. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0882-614520180000035004
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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