Interdependent Self-Construals

Definition

Self-construal refers to the way in which a person thinks about and defines the self. Importantly, selfconstrual is not only a way of viewing oneself but also a way of understanding one's relationship to the larger social world. When people are construing or thinking about themselves in an interdependent way, they are likely to think first and foremost about their roles in relationships (e.g., “I'm Nancy's best friend” or “I'm the youngest son in my family”) and their important group memberships (e.g., “I'm a sorority sister” or “I'm an Asian American”). An interdependent selfconstrual, because of its emphasis on relationships and groups, is thus one in which the self is seen as fundamentally embedded in the larger social world. Interestingly, thinking of the self in ...