Social and personal aspects of self knowledge: a balance of individuality and belonging

Concerns with persistent self-stereotyping by adolescents about academic achievements and body image focus attention on sources of self concepts. A self categorization approach to self concepts highlights a sense of individuality at a personal level, and a sense of belonging at a social level. This study investigates developmental trends in these social aspects of self knowledge for adolescent girls and boys (N=461) 11 to 17 years old. Results suggest that Individuality and Belonging are separate constructs, with considerable variability among adolescents. On average, a sense of individuality seems stronger for older adolescents and a sense of belonging seems more moderate for older adolescents. The implications are for individual differences as well as age-related variations in the personal and social basis of adolescent self concepts.