The Role of Cultural Identity Clarity in Shaping Self-Concept and Self-Esteem

Theoretical frameworks such as social comparison theory (Festinger, 1954, as cited in Stets & Burke, 2014), social identity theory (Tajfel, 1978, as cited in Hornsey, 2008), self-categorization theory (Turner et al., 1987, as cited in Hogg, 2007), and uncertainty-identity theory (Hogg, 2007) provide the foundation for exploring the role of culture as the cornerstone of the self-concept. Previous dialogues surrounding the self primarily emphasized personal identity and self-esteem as the core aspects of the self (Taylor, 1997). However, because comparison is fundamental to identity formation, Taylor (1997) argues that collective identity is a critical aspect of the self, with culture serving as one of its most pervasive forms. Usborne & Taylor (2010b) empirically tested this theory and found that cultural identity clarity was significantly positively correlated with self-concept clarity and self-esteem, highlighting the primary role of cultural identity. To extend Usborne & Taylor’s (2010b) findings, the current study experimentally manipulated cultural identity clarity to assess its effects on self-concept clarity and self-esteem, to examine the potential of increasing cultural identity clarity as a means of strengthening the self-concept. Participants were randomly assigned to engage with a culturally reflective or neutral prompt, followed by measures assessing their cultural identity clarity, self-concept clarity, and self-esteem. The study hypothesized that the group that reflected on their culture would demonstrate higher scores across all measures, demonstrating increased cultural identity clarity. The findings replicated the established correlations between groups; however, no significant results were discovered between conditions for cultural identity or self-concept clarity. A significant difference, though, was observed between conditions for self-esteem. In this study, writing about one’s culture did not indicate an increase in cultural identity and self-concept clarity. These results, therefore, suggest that self-esteem may be influenced by reflecting on fundamental aspects of culture, but this influence was not reflected in cultural identity and self-concept clarity.<p></p>