Publication Date
5-2024
Date of Final Oral Examination (Defense)
4-11-2024
Type of Culminating Activity
Thesis
Degree Title
Master of Arts in Anthropology
Department Filter
Anthropology
Department
Anthropology
Supervisory Committee Chair
John Ziker, Ph.D.
Supervisory Committee Member
Kendall House, Ph.D.
Supervisory Committee Member
Jessica Ayers, Ph.D.
Abstract
This thesis investigates the Passion & Purpose™ experience as a model for enhancing self-concept clarity (SCC) and its influence on personal and professional life. Traditional theories suggest self-concept forms unpredictably, possibly leading to pathologies that undermine well-being and interpersonal connections. Contrary to this, the study argues that deliberate interventions like Passion & Purpose™ can significantly improve SCC, promoting better mental, emotional, and relational health.
Adopting an anthropological perspective, which is rare in SCC research, this study uses ethnographic methods to delve deeper into self-knowledge. Passion & Purpose™, already implemented in various U.S. organizations, presents an innovative method for developing SCC.
The research surveyed employees from a San Francisco private equity firm (n=37) and a rural Idaho hospital (n=76), averaging three years after undergoing the Passion & Purpose™ experience. Using a 7-point Likert scale, it assessed shifts in SCC and related psychological attributes.
The findings reveal substantial improvements in SCC, self-awareness, self-esteem, self-image, self-efficacy, and interpersonal effectiveness, with 89% of Group A and 61% of Group B reporting enhanced SCC. Despite these positive outcomes, the study recognizes limitations such as its retrospective nature and the potential influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on participant perceptions.
The study also notes the challenge of assessing the intervention's long-term impact, considering the variable experiences of participants during the pandemic and the different pressures in corporate and healthcare settings. Future research should employ more rigorous designs with pre- and post-intervention measurements and explore how external crises like the pandemic affect the success of cultural interventions.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.18122/td.2202.boisestate
Recommended Citation
Voccola, Thomas Anthony, "The Anthropology of Self: How Achieving Greater Self-Concept Clarity Impacts Individual Behavior, Relationships, and Cooperation" (2024). Boise State University Theses and Dissertations. 2202.
https://doi.org/10.18122/td.2202.boisestate
