Considering the Role of Identity Cultivation Stage in Symbolic Self-Completion and Self-Retention

The role of identity cultivation stage in symbolic self-completion and self-retention is discussed. Here, Kleine et al examine how different stages of identity cultivation impact the accumulation and deployment of identity resources, such as possessions and social connections. They conducted a survey in which respondents reported on their identity resources and the importance of six concurrent identities. The sample included individuals indicative of rookie and veteran cultivation stages. The data collected showed that veterans in an identity domain possess more identity supporting resources than rookies. Rookies were more likely to self-symbolize a new identity, while veterans were more likely to self-symbolize a past identity. The study also found that rookies deployed identity-related items more often, even after controlling for importance and possession inventory size. The results suggest that identity cultivation stage is an important moderator of self-symbolization and that individuals deploy identity resources differently as they move through cultivation stages. The findings have implications for understanding the person-possession linkage and highlight the variability in identity-related social ties, ownership of possessions, and self-symbolizing behaviors across different stages of identity cultivation.