Ego Identity and Relational and Social Aggression Mediated by Elaborative and Deep Processing

Jered B. Kolbert; Laura M. Crothers; Gibbs Y. Kanyongo; Helena K.Y. Ng; Charles M. Albright; Eric Fenclau Jr.; Ara J. Schmitt; Daniel Wells

doi:10.6000/1929-4409.2012.01.10

Authors

Jered B. Kolbert Department of Counseling, Psychology, and Special Education (DCPSE), Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, 110D Canevin Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
Laura M. Crothers Department of Counseling, Psychology, and Special Education (DCPSE), Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, 110D Canevin Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
Gibbs Y. Kanyongo Department of Counseling, Psychology, and Special Education (DCPSE), Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, 110D Canevin Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
Helena K.Y. Ng Department of Counseling, Psychology, and Special Education (DCPSE), Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, 110D Canevin Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
Charles M. Albright Department of Counseling, Psychology, and Special Education (DCPSE), Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, 110D Canevin Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
Eric Fenclau Jr. Department of Counseling, Psychology, and Special Education (DCPSE), Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, 110D Canevin Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
Ara J. Schmitt Department of Counseling, Psychology, and Special Education (DCPSE), Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, 110D Canevin Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
Daniel Wells Department of Counseling, Psychology, and Special Education (DCPSE), Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, 110D Canevin Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2012.01.10

Keywords:

Ego identity, relational aggression, social aggression, deep processing, elaborative processing

Abstract

In this investigation, late adolescents’ (N = 629) ego identity status (e.g., identity achievement, identity diffusion, identity moratorium, and identity foreclosure), cognitive processing style, and self-reported use of relational aggression and social aggression were measured in order to assess potential relationships among these constructs. Four separate models were used to test these hypotheses, and the results showed support for some but not all the four hypotheses. In this sample, it appears that individuals with high levels of cognitive sophistication who lack social maturity by which to resolve relationship problems were more likely to use social aggression than those with lower levels of cognitive processing skills or with higher levels of emotional maturity.

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