Who am I? New study links early family experiences, self-esteem with self-clarity

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-03/uab-wai030615.php

Public Release: 6-Mar-2015
University at Buffalo

Although some children emerge from cold and neglectful family environments as adults with high self-esteem, a new University at Buffalo study suggests these people may still be at a relative disadvantage in life, with a foggier sense of who they are.

On the other hand, adults with low self-esteem who grew up in the same type of negative environment actually have relatively high self-clarity, according to the study's findings.

"Our findings show that even those people who manage to get out of that relatively negative time and view themselves as good, worthwhile and capable people are still not sure of the entire picture of themselves," says study co-author Mark Seery, UB professor of psychology. "So they're held back a little bit in that sense.

"It seems counterintuitive at first," he adds, "but people who currently view themselves more negatively--as not so worthwhile or capable--have the most clarity about themselves when they grew up around a harsher family environment. We think that sense of clarity comes from the fact that there is a match between their negative view of themselves and their negative experience growing up."

Greater self-clarity is associated with better psychological adjustment, lower neuroticism, better academic performance and a lower likelihood of anger and aggression in response to failure, the researchers explain.

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