Beyond self-esteem: Influence of multiple motives on identity construction.

Diverse theories suggest that people are motivated to maintain or enhance feelings of self-esteem, continuity, distinctiveness, belonging, efficacy and meaning in their identities. Four studies tested the influence of these motives on identity construction, using a multilevel regression design. Participants perceived as more central those identity elements which provided a greater sense of self-esteem, continuity, distinctiveness and meaning; this was found for individual, relational and group levels of identity, among various populations, and using a prospective design. Motives for belonging and efficacy influenced identity definition indirectly through their direct influences on identity enactment and through their contributions to self-esteem. Participants were happiest about those identity elements which best satisfied motives for self-esteem and efficacy. These findings point to the need for an integrated theory of identity motivation.