Social Psychology Network

Maintained by Scott Plous, Wesleyan University

Carolin Showers

Carolin Showers

Carolin Showers studies the content and structure of the self-concept with implications for mood and self-esteem. Her model of self-organization distinguishes compartmentalized versus integrative styles of organizing self-knowledge. Current studies focus on the relation between self-structure and ethical behavior, change in self-structure with change in mood or life stress, and the organization of self-beliefs in clinical populations, including those with depression or eating disorders. Other areas of interest include personality theory, especially a cognitive strategies approach; the influence of motivational and emotional factors on cognitive processes; optimism, pessimism, and depression; stress and coping; close relationships (i.e., organization of knowledge about a relationship partner); and attitude conflict (i.e., integration of positive and negative attitudes).

Primary Interests:

  • Close Relationships
  • Emotion, Mood, Affect
  • Health Psychology
  • Interpersonal Processes
  • Motivation, Goal Setting
  • Personality, Individual Differences
  • Self and Identity
  • Social Cognition

Journal Articles:

  • Ditzfeld, C. P., & Showers, C. J. (2011). Emotional processing in categorization: Understanding the cognitive structure of the self. Social Cognition, 29, 111-124.
  • Limke, A., & Showers, C. J. (2010). Organization of parent knowledge: Compartmentalization and integration in adult child-parent relationships. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 36, 1225-1240.
  • Showers, C. J., Abramson, L. Y., & Hogan, M. E. (1998). The dynamic self: How the content and structure of the self-concept change with mood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 478-493.
  • Showers, C. J., & Kevlyn, S. B. (1999). Organization of knowledge about a relationship partner: Implications for liking and loving. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 76, 958-971.
  • Showers, C. J., & Kling, K. C. (1996). Organization of self-knowledge: Implications for recovery from sad mood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70, 578-590.
  • Showers, C. J., Limke, A., & Zeigler-Hill, V. (2004). Self-structure and self-change: Applications to psychological treatment. Behavior Therapy, 35, 167-184.
  • Showers, C. J., Zeigler-Hill, V., & Limke, A. (2006). Self-structure and childhood maltreatment: Successful compartmentalization and the struggle of integration. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 25, 473-506.
  • Zeigler-Hill, V., & Showers, C. J. (2007). Self-structure and self-esteem stability: The hidden vulnerability of compartmentalization. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 33, 143-159.

Other Publications:

  • Showers, C. J. (2002). Integration and compartmentalization: A model of self-structure and self-change. In D. Cervone & W. Mischel (Eds.), Advances in Personality Science. New York: Guilford. pp. 271-291.

Carolin Showers
Department of Psychology
University of Oklahoma
455 W. Lindsey Street, #705
Norman, Oklahoma 73019
United States of America

  • Phone: (405) 325-4708

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