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Importance models of the physical self: Improved methodology supports a normative-cultural importance model but not the individual importance model
Scalas, L. Francesca Morin, Alexandre Marsh, Herbert Nagengast, Benjamin
Scalas, L. Francesca
Morin, Alexandre
Marsh, Herbert
Nagengast, Benjamin
Abstract
We examine theoretical and methodological issues associated with the roles of individual and group-normative importance in self-esteem determination. Critical issues include multicollinearity among the physical self-subdomains, which may have affected previous results, and the need for a multidimensional perspective on importance models. Using Lindwall, Aşçi, Palmeira, Fox, & Hagger (2011)’s database, we apply state-of-the-art methodologies, including Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling and the product-of-indicators approach to latent interactions. Positive interactions would be required to support the Individually Importance-Weighted Average model, but none were observed in the multidimensional model, including all interaction effects; nonetheless, some effects were found in the country-based version of the model. Rather, we found support for the alternative Group Importance-Weighted Average model. We conclude that domain-specific self-concepts are weighted differently and thus differentially affect self-esteem, but these weights do not seem to depend on individual differences in importance. Although awaiting confirmation from further studies, our results suggest the idea that individuals use mainly normative importance processes based on cultural factors in weighting each domain specific component of self-concept.
Keywords
Date
2014
Type
Journal article
Journal
European Journal of Social Psychology
Book
Volume
44
Issue
2
Page Range
154-174
Article Number
ACU Department
Institute for Positive Psychology and Education
Faculty of Education and Arts
Faculty of Education and Arts
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Open access
License
File Access
Controlled