Understanding Self and Identity Development
The Self and Identity Development Laboratory (SELFID) is part of the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Our research examines self and identity development, with a particular focus on adolescence and emerging adulthood. We study how people explore and develop commitments in education and work, how they pursue meaningful goals, and how identity processes relate to perfectionism, achievement, and well-being. We also investigate perfectionism and its relationships with emotion regulation and psychological adjustment. Across these areas, we consider the contexts in which development occurs, including educational settings, family relationships, and digital environments.
Alongside understanding these developmental processes, we seek to identify, develop, and evaluate interventions and resources that can support adaptive identity development and well-being.
Our approach and values
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Development in context
We examine self and identity development over time, considering the educational, social, and cultural contexts of people’s experiences. This includes attention to digital environments and their place in contemporary development.
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Scientific rigor and accessible research
We value careful study design, appropriate measurement and analysis, and clear communication of findings and their limitations. We support open science and aim to make our research outputs discoverable, accessible, and useful to scientific and wider audiences.
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Collaboration
We bring together researchers with complementary interests and methodological expertise. Through national and international collaborations, we exchange perspectives and develop research across our shared areas of interest.
How we study self and identity
Our research uses longitudinal studies, experimental and intervention designs, and qualitative and mixed-method approaches.
Longitudinal studies follow participants over time to examine patterns of stability and change, developmental trajectories, and relations among identity processes, personal goals, perfectionism, academic achievement, emotion regulation, and well-being.
Experimental and intervention studies examine responses to specific conditions or activities and evaluate approaches intended to support identity development, motivation, and well-being.
Qualitative research provides in-depth insight into personal meanings, experiences, and the contexts in which they unfold. Mixed-method studies integrate qualitative and quantitative evidence to develop a fuller understanding of the questions being investigated.
FUNDING
