EFFECTS OF THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN SELF-CONCEPTS ON EMOTIONAL ADJUSTMENT

The relations between the various self-concepts and the emotional consequences of the discrepancy between them have been a favorite center of attention for personality theorists. This study analyzes (a) the relation between the magnitude of the discrepancy (actual/own:ideal/own, ideal/own:social) and the intensity of emotional states (social anxiety and depression), and (b) the possible correspondence between type of discrepancy and type of emotional state. The results show a linear relation between the magnitude of the discrepancy among representations of the self and emotional intensity, together with a high specificity between type of discrepancy and type of emotional state: on one side, a strong correspondence between the actual/own:ideal/own discrepancy and depression and, on the other, between the ideal/own:social discrepancy and social anxiety. Finally, the theoretical implications of the results are discussed. © 1992.