The Research On Peer Group Member's Self-monitoring And Self-discrepancy

The study goes into the context of peer group, focusing on member's self-discrepancy and self-monitoring and trying to clarify the influence from the two factors on the identity of each member in the group by investigation and statistic analysis. Self-discrepancy, an important component of self identity, effects the self evaluation and actions. Furthermore, it will effect the status of an individual in the peer group. According to Higgins' theory of self- discrepancy, the study discusses the different affects from ideal- actual self and ought- actual self to status of members. Starting with Snyder's theory of self-monitoring, the study evaluates the influences to individual's status in peer group from self-monitoring and it's three sub-dimensions: acting, extroversion and other-directedness. Qualitative methodology is used to make the quantitative research vivid and real. During one year's fieldwork, three samples were focused on and described thoroughly.The study shows:1. Extroversion and other-directedness effect member's leading status in peer group. Members with extreme high or low scores have certain problems in interpersonal relation.2. Ideal-actual self-discrepancy effect member's interpersonal emotional supporting. The smaller self-discrepancy is, the more adaptable to the interaction in the peer group.3. Description of the three typical samples for peer groups clarifies and embodies the results of quantitative research.