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- Identity and death : an empirical investigation
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UBC Theses and Dissertations
Identity and death : an empirical investigation Lavoie, Jim A.
Abstract
A model based on Erikson's psychosocial approach was proposed for the development of an existential domain of identity - conceptualized as a component of ideological identity, and operationalized as a set of death attitudes corresponding to general identity themes. Paralleling Marcia's (1966) Identity Status constructs of exploration and commitment, these death attitudes reflected death contemplation and acceptance in a variety of contexts. A sample of 149 university undergraduates completed a questionnaire consisting of a number of scales representing these death attitudes, as well as a measure of identity status. A MANCOVA (controlling for religious involvement, bereavement, and age) indicated that individuals high in ideological commitment had significantly higher levels of certain types of death acceptance, and were more likely to view death as purposeful. A MANCOVA examining the effects of ideological exploration on variables associated with death contemplation was also conducted, but the multivariate effect was not significant. An exploratory ideological identity status MANCOVA indicated, however, that achievers may have a significantly more personal conception of death than diffusions. These results suggest that amongst young adult students, death ideology is relevant at least as a socially constructed (or foreclosed) form of identity.
Item Metadata
Title |
Identity and death : an empirical investigation
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Creator | |
Publisher |
University of British Columbia
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Date Issued |
1998
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Description |
A model based on Erikson's psychosocial approach was
proposed for the development of an existential domain of identity
- conceptualized as a component of ideological identity, and
operationalized as a set of death attitudes corresponding to
general identity themes. Paralleling Marcia's (1966) Identity
Status constructs of exploration and commitment, these death
attitudes reflected death contemplation and acceptance in a
variety of contexts. A sample of 149 university undergraduates
completed a questionnaire consisting of a number of scales
representing these death attitudes, as well as a measure of
identity status. A MANCOVA (controlling for religious
involvement, bereavement, and age) indicated that individuals
high in ideological commitment had significantly higher levels of
certain types of death acceptance, and were more likely to view
death as purposeful. A MANCOVA examining the effects of
ideological exploration on variables associated with death
contemplation was also conducted, but the multivariate effect was
not significant. An exploratory ideological identity status
MANCOVA indicated, however, that achievers may have a
significantly more personal conception of death than diffusions.
These results suggest that amongst young adult students, death
ideology is relevant at least as a socially constructed (or
foreclosed) form of identity.
|
Extent |
5946615 bytes
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Genre | |
Type | |
File Format |
application/pdf
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Language |
eng
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Date Available |
2009-05-26
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Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
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Rights |
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
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DOI |
10.14288/1.0088541
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URI | |
Degree | |
Program | |
Affiliation | |
Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
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Graduation Date |
1998-11
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Campus | |
Scholarly Level |
Graduate
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Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
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Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.