Identity processing style and cognitive attributional strategies: Similarities and difference across different contexts

Identity processing style refers to the manner in which individuals approac h or manage to avoid identity relevant problems and decisions. Two studies were designed to investigate the relationship between identity style and th e specific cognitive and attributional strategies youth deploy in achieveme nt and affiliative contexts. In Study I, 198 American late adolescents fill ed in the revised Identity Style Inventory and a Strategy and Attribution Q uestionnaire. In Study 2, 109 Finnish late adolescents filled in the same m easures. Study I revealed that diffuse/avoidant-oriented American youth rel ied on maladaptive strategies in both contexts, Information-oriented youth engaged in more strategic planning than did their normative and diffuse/avo idant counterparts. Study 2 indicated an identical pattern of associations among the identity processing styles and cognitive and attributional strate gies for Finnish youth in achievement but not in interpersonal settings. Th e results are discussed in the context of a social-cognitive theory of iden tity development. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.