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Abstract
Self-continuity is the subjective sense of connection between one's past and present selves (past-present self-continuity), between one's present and future selves (present-future self-continuity), or among one's past, present, and future selves (global self-continuity). We consider the motivational character of the three forms of self-continuity, their regulatory properties, and the internal or external factors that consolidate them. We also review their consequences for attitudes and judgments or decisions, motivation, intentions and behavior, and psychological and physical health. We further detail the psychological and behavioral benefits of self-discontinuity (i.e., a sense of disconnect among temporal selves). We next turn to the brain regions that are activated synchronously with self-continuity. We consider developmental perspectives on self-continuity, discuss collective self-continuity (along with its consequences and regulatory properties), and elaborate on cultural differences in self-continuity. This inaugural Annual Reviews chapter demonstrates the breadth, excitement, and sense of synergy among self-continuity researchers and points to promising research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantine Sedikides
- Centre for Research on Self and Identity, School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom; , ,
| | - Emily K Hong
- Centre for Research on Self and Identity, School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom; , ,
| | - Tim Wildschut
- Centre for Research on Self and Identity, School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom; , ,
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Sokol Y, Knapic E, Levin C, Silver C, Hubner S, Cole S, Dichiara A, Goodman M. The Relationship Between Future Self-Continuity and Suicide Risk in Military Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury. JOURNAL OF VETERANS STUDIES 2022. [DOI: 10.21061/jvs.v8i3.318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
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Abstract
Self-knowledge is a type of personal semantic knowledge that concerns one's self-image and personal identity. It has most often been operationalized as the summary of one's personality traits ("I am a stubborn person"). Interestingly, recent studies have revealed that the neural correlates of self-knowledge can be dissociated from those of general semantic and episodic memory in young adults. However, studies of "dedifferentiation" or loss of distinctiveness of neural representations in ageing suggest that the neural correlates of self-knowledge might be less distinct from those of semantic and episodic memory in older adults. We investigated this question in an event-related potential (ERP) study with 28 young and 26 older adults while they categorised personality traits for their self-relevance (self-knowledge conditions), and their relevance to certain groups of people (general semantic condition). Participants then performed a recognition test for previously seen traits (episodic condition). The amplitude of the late positive component (LPC), associated with episodic recollection processes, differentiated the self-knowledge, general semantic, and episodic conditions in young adults, but not in older adults. However, in older adults, participants with higher composite episodic memory scores had more differentiated LPC amplitudes across experimental conditions. Moreover, consistent with the fact that age-related neural dedifferentiation may be material and region specific, in both age groups some differences between memory types were observed for the N400 component, associated with semantic processing. Taken together, these findings suggest that declarative memory subtypes are less distinct in ageing, but that the amount of differentiation varies with episodic memory function.
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Sokol Y, Ridley J, Goodman M, Landa Y, Hernandez S, Dixon L. Continuous Identity Cognitive Therapy: Feasibility and Acceptability of a Novel Intervention for Suicidal Symptoms. J Cogn Psychother 2021; 35:JCPSY-D-20-00023. [PMID: 33397785 DOI: 10.1891/jcpsy-d-20-00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
We introduce continuous identity cognitive therapy (CI-CT), a novel suicide intervention. CI-CT was developed based on evidence that suicidal individuals have difficulty viewing and experiencing continuity with their perceived future self, and having meaningful and achievable personal goals. CI-CT integrates aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) with modality-specific techniques focusing on the individual's perceived present-to-future life story. The intervention guides the development of a meaningful life story with a vivid and positive future self. The results of an open-label pilot/feasibility trial (N = 17) for U.S. Veterans with a serious mental illness indicate that CI-CT is feasible, acceptable to Veterans, and may help with suicidality, depression, hopelessness, and future self-continuity. Reductions in clinical symptoms were associated with improvement in future self-continuity and were largely maintained at the 1-month follow-up. These results, along with high retention rates and positive Veteran feedback, support further exploration of the utility of CI-CT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosef Sokol
- VISN 2 South Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Centers at James J. Peters VAMC, New York, NY, Mt. Sinai, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Josephine Ridley
- VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland, OH, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
| | - Marianne Goodman
- VISN 2 South Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Centers at James J. Peters VAMC, New York, NY, Mt. Sinai, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Yulia Landa
- VISN 2 South Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Centers at James J. Peters VAMC, New York, NY, Mt. Sinai, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | | | - Lisa Dixon
- VISN 2 South Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Centers at James J. Peters VAMC, New York, NY
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Halilova JG, Addis DR, Rosenbaum RS. Getting better without memory. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2020; 15:815-825. [PMID: 32734306 PMCID: PMC8216303 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsaa105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Does the tendency to adjust appraisals of ourselves in the past and future in order to maintain a favourable view of ourselves in the present require episodic memory? A developmental amnesic person with impaired episodic memory (HC) was compared with two groups of age-matched controls on tasks assessing the Big Five personality traits and social competence in relation to the past, present and future. Consistent with previous research, controls believed that their personality had changed more in the past 5 years than it will change in the next 5 years (i.e. the end-of-history illusion), and rated their present and future selves as more socially competent than their past selves (i.e. social improvement illusion), although this was moderated by self-esteem. Despite her lifelong episodic memory impairment, HC also showed these biases of temporal self-appraisal. Together, these findings do not support the theory that the temporal extension of the self-concept requires the ability to recollect richly detailed memories of the self in the past and future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Donna Rose Addis
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences
University, 3560 Bathurst Street Toronto, Ontario M6A 2E1, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of
Toronto
| | - R Shayna Rosenbaum
- Department of Psychology, York
University
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences
University, 3560 Bathurst Street Toronto, Ontario M6A 2E1, Canada
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Sokol Y, Serper M. Development and Validation of a Future Self-Continuity Questionnaire: A Preliminary Report. J Pers Assess 2019; 102:677-688. [PMID: 31107602 DOI: 10.1080/00223891.2019.1611588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yosef Sokol
- VISN 2 South Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Centers, Washington, DC
- James J. Peters VAMC, New York, NY
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Psychology Department, Hofstra University
| | - Mark Serper
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Psychology Department, Hofstra University
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Sokol Y, Serper M. Experimentally Increasing Self-Continuity Improves Subjective Well-Being and Protects against Self-Esteem Deterioration from an Ego-Deflating Task. IDENTITY 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/15283488.2019.1604350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yosef Sokol
- Psychology Department, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA
- VISN 2 South Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Centers, New York, NY, USA
- James J. Peters VAMC, New York, NY, USA
- Mt. Sinai, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mark Serper
- Psychology Department, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA
- Mt. Sinai, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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Temporal Self, Psychopathology, and Adaptive Functioning Deficits: An Examination of Acute Psychiatric Patients. J Nerv Ment Dis 2019; 207:76-83. [PMID: 30672879 DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000000925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with psychiatric illness have difficulty remembering specific events from their personal past and imagining their future. We examined psychotic psychiatric inpatients' sense of self-continuity over time, predicting that low levels of temporal continuity would predict increased psychopathology and lower functionality. Inpatients (n = 60) were compared with healthy controls (n = 60) on a validated measure of self-continuity, psychiatric symptoms, insight, and adaptive functioning capacity. Results revealed that patients had significant difficulty perceiving their past, present, and future selves as unified over time compared with controls. Within the inpatient group, deficits in present to future self-continuity was associated with patients' severity of positive, negative, and mood symptoms, degree of insight, and adaptive capacity. It may be the case that temporal self-unity provides a context for deriving reinforcement from daily life experiences in the moment and in anticipating the future as well as a worthwhile goal for treatment exploration.
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