ABSTRACT
Interrelations among self-concept, bases of self-esteem, gender, age, and individualism-collectivism were investigated in four studies with Turkish respondents, using the Twenty Statements Test (TST) to assess self-concept, the ASSEI to assess bases of self-esteem, and the IndCol (I-C) scale to measure individualism-collectivism. Gender and age differences were found in two categories of TST responses. Compared to males and students, females and adults gave more allocentric and small group responses. Collectivistic respondents and females gave greater importance to interpersonal/relational bases of self-esteem than Individualistic respondents and males. There were no age, gender, or I-C differences in the importance of personal characteristics as bases of self-esteem. The pattern of results over the four studies suggests that contextual variables may be important, and that the conceptualization of individualism-collectivism as a single dimension makes it difficult to state clear predictions concerning the separate and joint effects of gender and culture on self-concept and self-esteem.
