Cognitive Reasoning Processes and Identity Commitment

Mediating Role of Identity Processing Styles

Abstract

Knowing ‘who one is’ and developing a clear sense of ‘self’ are important tasks to be accomplished by adolescents.In negotiating the different issues related to the adolescents’ self, the differences in how individuals process self-related information and general cognitive reasoning processes play important role. The present study is aimed at investigatingthe direct aswell as indirect effect (through identity processing styles) of cognitive reasoning processes (rational-experiential processing systems) on identity commitment. In this model, identity processing styles serve as a catalyst for cognitive reasoning and identity commitment.For this purpose, a sample of 250 boys and 250 girls with ages ranging from 15-20 years was taken. Identity Style Inventory-3 (Berzonsky, 1992b) and Rational Experiential Inventory-Adolescents (Marks et al., 2008) were administered on the sample. The mediating role of identity processing styles in the relationship of cognitive reasoning and identity commitmentwas investigated. The results of Multiple Hierarchical Regression analyses revealed that the relation between rational processing system and identity commitment is completely mediated by informational identity processing style (positively) and
diffuse-avoidant style (negatively). Still further, the relationship between experiential processing and identity commitment is completely mediated by informational identity processing style. The current study findings are considered in terms of Berzonsky’s (2007,2008a) socio-cognitive model of formation of identity