Self and Health: How “Patterns” of Self-Beliefs Predict Types of Emotional and Physical Problems

Abstract

Taking a “Gestalt” perspective, we propose that a particular pattern of self-beliefs, as a whole, has a distinct psychological significance that depends on the interrelations among the self-beliefs and not just the self-beliefs as independent elements. Patterns of self-beliefs were identified that contained a particular type of self-discrepancy in common but differed in how a third self-belief related to that self-discrepancy. First, four patterns were compared that each involved an actual:ideal discrepancy: A < I[> F], A < I[= F], A = C [< I], and A < C[= I] [where “A” is the actual self, “I” is the ideal self, “F” is the future self, and “C” is the can self]. The A < I[> F] pattern as a whole signifies “doing less well than wished for but not less than expected” whereas the A < I[= F] pattern as a whole signifies “chronically unfulfilled hopes.” The A = C [< I] pattern as a whole signifies “fulfillment of one's limited potential” whereas the A < C[= I] pattern as a whole signifies “chronic failure to meet one's positive potential.” As predicted, the A < I[= F] and A < C[= I] patterns were more strongly associated with suffering than the A < I[> F] and A = C [< I] patterns, and, in addition, uniquely predicted two different kinds of dejection-related suffering (“feeling despondent” vs. “feeling weak,” respectively). Second, two patterns were compared that each involved an actual: can discrepancy: A < C[= I] and A < C[= O] (where “O” is the ought/other self). The A < C[= O] pattern as a whole signifies “chronic deviation from prescribed capabilities.” The A < C[= I] pattern uniquely predicted bulimia-related symptoms and stomach problems. The A < C[= O] pattern uniquely predicted anorexia-related symptoms, menstrual problems, and problems with diarrhea, migraine headaches, and muscle cramps.

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