The Wabash National Study of Liberal Arts Education: Self-Authorship
The concept of self-authorship originates from the work of Robert Kegan (1994). He describes self-authorship as the internal coordination of beliefs, values, and interpersonal loyalties. Mature capacity on cognitive, intrapersonal, and interpersonal dimensions of development yields self-authorship. Self-authorship on all three dimensions reflects the integrated developmental capacities required for college graduates to be effective workers, parents, family members, and citizens.
Cognitive dimension
- Develop an internal belief system via constructing, evaluating, and interpreting judgments in light of available frames of reference
Intrapersonal dimension
- Choose own values and identity in crafting an internally generated sense of self that regulates interpretation of experience and choices
Interpersonal dimension
- Capacity to engage in authentic, interdependent relationships with diverse others in which self is not overshadowed by a need for others’ approval, mutually negotiating needs, and genuinely taking others’ perspectives into account without being consumed by them
From Baxter Magolda, M.B. (2004). Self-authorship as the common goal of 21st-century education. In M.B. Baxter Magolda & P.M. King (Eds), Learning Partnerships: Theory and models of practice to educate for self-authorship (pps. 1-35). Sterling, VA: Stylus.
Self-Authorship Resource List
Abes, E. S., & Jones, S. R. (2004). Meaning-making capacity and the dynamics of lesbian college students' multiple dimensions of identity. Journal of College Student Development, 45(6), 612-632.
Association of American Colleges and Universities, AAC&U (2002). Greater expectations: A new vision for learning as a nation goes to college (pp. xi-xii). Washington, DC: Author.
Baxter Magolda, M. B. (1999). Creating contexts for learning: Constructive-developmental pedagogy. Nashville, TN: Vanderbilt University press.
Baxter Magolda, M. B. (2001). Making their own way: Narratives for transforming higher education to promote self-development. Sterling, VA: Stylus.
Baxter Magolda, M. B. (2003). Identity and learning: Student affairs’ role in transforming higher education. Journal of College Student Development, 44(1), 231-247.
Baxter Magolda, M. B. (2004). Self-authorship as the common goal of 21st century education. In M. B. Baxter Magolda & P. M. King (Eds.), Learning partnerships: Theory and models of practice to educate for self-authorship (pp. 1-35). Sterling, VA: Stylus.
Baxter Magolda, M. B. and King, P. M. (Eds.) (2004). Learning partnerships: Theories and models of practice to educate for self-authorship. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.
Baxter Magolda, M. & King, P.M. (in press). Constructing conversations to assess meaning-making: Self-authorship interviews. Journal of College Student Development.
Creamer, E. G. and Laughlin, A. (2005). Self-authorship and women’s career decision making. Journal of College Student Development, 46 (1), 13-27.
Creamer, E. G., Lee, S., & Meszaros, P.S. (in press). Predicting women’s interest and choice in a career in information technology: A statistical model. In C. J. Burger, E. G. Creamer, and P.S. Meszaros (Eds.), Hacking the Firewall: Cross-Cultural Context for Recruiting Women to IT. Wellesley, MA: AK Peters Publishing.
Creamer, E. G., Lee, S., & Meszaros, P. S., Burger, C. J., & Laughlin, A. (in press). Predicting women’s interest and choice of an IT career. In E. M. Trauth (Ed.), Encyclopedia of gender and information technology. Information Science Publishing an imprint of Idea Group Inc.: Hershey, PA.
Helsing, D., Broderick, M., & Hammerman, J. (2001). A developmental view of ESOL students’ identity transitions in an urban community college. In The Adult Development Research Group (Eds.), Toward a new pluralism in ABE/ESOL classrooms: Teaching to multiple “cultures of mind” (pp. 77-228). Cambridge, MA: National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy, Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Huber, M. T., & Hutchings, P., & Gale, R. (2005). Integrative learning for liberal education. Peer Review, Summer/Fall, 4-7.
Ignelzi, M. (2000). Meaning-making in the learning and teaching process. In Baxter Magolda, M.B. (Ed.), Teaching to promote intellectual and personal maturity: Incorporating students’ worldviews and identities into the learning process, New Directions for Teaching and Learning. 82, 5-14. San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
Kegan, R. (1994). In over our heads: The mental demands of modern life. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
King, P. M. & Baxter Magolda (2005). A developmental model of intercultural maturity. Journal of College Student Development, 46 (6), 571-592.
Komives, S. R., Longerbeam, S. D., Owen, J. E., Mainella, F. C., & Osteen, L. (2006). A leadership identity development model: Applications from a grounded theory. Journal of College Student Development, 47 (4), 401-418.
Lahey, L. L., Souvaine, E., Kegan, R., Goodman, R., & Felix, S. (1988). A guide to the Subject-Object Interview: Its administration and interpretation: Available from: Subject-Object Research Group, 201, Nichols House, HGSE, Cambridge, MA 02138.
Laughlin, A. & Creamer, E. G. (in press). Engaging different perspectives with self-authorship. In P. S. Meszaros (Ed.), Advancing student’s intellectual growth through the lens of self-authorship. New Directions for Teaching and Learning. San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
Lee, S., Meszaros, P.S., Creamer, E.G., Laughlin,A., & Burger, C.J. (2006). The role of parent-child relationships in developing self-authorship among Korean college females. International Journal of Human Ecology, 7 (1), 111-119.
Meszaros, P. S. (Ed.) (in press). Advancing student’s intellectual growth through the lens of self-authorship. New Directions for Teaching and Learning. San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
Meszaros, P. (Executive Producer) & Laughlin, A. (Associate Producer). (2006). The power of partners: Helping females find their way to high tech careers. [DVD]. National Science Foundation: Washington, DC. (Available from www.witvideo.org.vt.edu).
Meszaros, P. S., Laughlin, A., Creamer, E. G., Burger, C. J., & Lee, S. (2006). Parental support for female IT career interest and choice. In E. M. Trauth (Ed.), Encyclopedia of gender and information technology (pp. 963-969). Hershey, PA: Idea Group Reference.
National Study of Liberal Arts Education, Center for Inquiry in the Liberal Arts at Wabash College, http://liberalarts.wabash.edu/nationalstudy
Pizzolato, J. E. (2003). Developing self-authorship: Exploring the experiences of high-risk college students. Journal of College Student Development, 44(6), 797-812.
Pizzolato, J. E. (2004). Coping with conflict: Self-authorship, coping, and adaptation to college in first-year, high-risk students. Journal of College Student Development, 45(4), 425-442.
Pizzolato, J. E. (2005). Creating crossroads for self-authorship: Investigating the provocative moment. Journal of College Student Development, 46(6), 624-641.
Pizzolato, J. E. (in press). Assessing self-authorship. In P. S. Meszaros (Ed.), Advancing students' intellectual growth through the lens of self-authorship, New Directions for Teaching and Learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Pizzolato, J. E., & Ozaki, C. C. (2007). Moving toward self-authorship: Investigating outcomes of learning partnerships. Journal of College Student Development, 48(2), 196-214.
Zaytoun, Kelli. (2005). Identity and learning: The inextricable link. About Campus, 9 (6), 8-15.
