Daily Feedback of Self-Concept Clarity and Grit

Self-concept clarity and grit are important constructs in the self-concept and selfregulation
domains. Though distinct in their focus on identity and goal processes, self-concept
clarity and grit similarly emphasize the extent to which self-views and goal-perseverance are
strong, clear, consistent, and unshakeable. We hypothesized self-knowledge and goalperseverance
may be mutually reinforcing given the role of self-knowledge in directing goal
pursuit, and of goal pursuit in structuring the self-concept. The present study tested this
hypothesis in the form of whether self-concept clarity and grit reciprocally influence one other
across time, and was conducted using a daily diary design with 97 college-aged participants
across several weeks. Data were analyzed using multilevel cross-lagged panel modeling. Results
indicated daily self-concept clarity and grit both had positive influences on each other across
time, while controlling for their previous values. The reciprocal influences were also symmetric:
self-concept clarity and grit had equally strong influences on each other. The results of the present
study are the first to indicate the existence of reinforcing feedback loops between self-concept
clarity and grit, and to demonstrate that fluctuations in self-knowledge trigger fluctuations in goal
resolve, and vice versa. The results suggest the two are, in part, both causes and consequences of
one another.