TY - JOUR
AU - Shapiro, Roger
AB - 
Using techniques derived from information theory, structural dimensions of adolescent self-images were studied. Within a sample of 58 adolescents, patients and normals, a variety of self-images were obtained using a specially designed Q-sort. The initial hypothesis predicted, on the basis of previous findings, that the idealized self-images would be more polarizedfor the patients. This hypothesis was only partiallyconfirmed. the self-idealization was significantly more polarized in the patient group. But the other two idealizations (those based on parental expectations) did not reflect a patient-normal difference. Rather, a significant three-way interaction of sex, age, and psychiatric status was found for these self-images, as well as for the current self-image. The consistent pattern in these three-way interactions was that late-adolescent boys polarized their self-images if they were in the normal group and had structurally complex (nonpolarized) self-images if they were in the patient group. The paper concludes by discussing the meaning of these findings. A framework for interpreting polarization is proposed and applied to the results. In addition, the notion of a “Self-Image Profile” is formulated and further elaborated. Finally, the relevance of these studies to other personality research and clinical observations is considered.
TI - Dimensions of adolescent self-images
JF - Journal of Youth and Adolescence
DO - 10.1007/BF01537823
DA - 2005-04-06
UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/springer-journals/dimensions-of-adolescent-self-images-Ox0qO6zzcH
SP - 339
EP - 353
VL - 1
IS - 4
DP - DeepDyve
ER -