course. We can also ask whether traits affect the internal reflection of
these elements in the Self-Concept: identity and the life narrative. Inone sense, as we have seen before, traits must affect the Self-Concept,because they are among its most salient contents. Extraverts think ofthemselves as extraverts, and they will tell you so if you ask them to an -
swer the question “Who am I?” (McCrae & Costa, 1988a).
However, at present we are concerned with a more subtle question:
Do traits affect the development of the Self-Concept over time? Do openindividuals have a different way of thinking about themselves, andabout changes in themselves, than closed individuals? Does Neuroti -
cism bias the selection of events one chooses to discuss in one’s life nar -
rative? These questions have seldom been asked, but they certainly
merit consideration.
Identity
Byidentity we mean those aspects of the Self-Concept that are particu-
larly salient or definitional—characteristics which, if they were takenfrom us, would lead us at least briefly to wonder if we were still our-selves. Traits form part of many people’s identity , but so do values, roles,and relationships. Because these latter Characteristic Adaptations changeover the life course, it becomes a matter of interest to see how the Self-Concept changes and whether the changes are moderated by personal-ity traits.
It is useful to begin by recalling that the Self-Concept is not a pas-
sive mirror image of one’s Characteristic Adaptations and Objective Bi -
ography . There is no one-to-one correspondence between the roles one
plays in society and the definitions one has of oneself. The fact that oneworks from 9:00 to 5:00 as a secretary does not mean that being a secre -
tary is part of one’s self-definition. In fact, many secretaries probably see
themselves as homemakers, novelists, or actors who are merely taking ajob as a secretary; their dreams and aspirations are elsewhere. Con -
versely , even when we fill a role that we have always hoped to fill, we
may not really believe we fit in. In the eyes of the law , we may be fullyadult at age 18 or 21; in our own eyes it may take many more years tillwe reach adulthood. In the meantime we act as adult as possible andhope that others will believe our bluff. Symbols are often important inestablishing our sense of identification with a role. Stethoscopes andwhite coats may be more important than licenses in making men and228 PERSONALITY IN ADULTHOOD