Representations of self and parents across the life span

This study extended earlier research on representations of self by comparing representations across multiple targets (self, mother, father). Levels of self- and other-representation were scored within a developmental level scheme indicating movement from undifferentiated and static descriptions to ones that place an emphasis on process and transformation. The results showed a significant progression from youth to midlife, but lower scores in late adulthood. In middle adulthood, a greater proportion of individuals described themselves as dynamic, complex, and integrated rather than as simple, static, and conventional-institutional. This same pattern held true for parental targets. Thus, at midlife, parents were more likely to be understood as individuals with their own unique personalities, motivations, and histories independent of the self. Finally, self- and parent-representations showed a different pattern of correlates for younger versus older individuals and for men versus women. For women and older individuals but not for men and younger participants, coping and defense strategies predicted self- and parent-representation level.