Mirror and camera self-focusing effects on complexity of private and public aspects of identity.

Complexity of private and public aspects of identity was investigated as a function of mirror and camera self-focusing. Using a sorting task to assess self-complexity, complexity of private but not public aspects of identity was greater under mirror self-focusing than under camera or no self-focusing, and complexity of public but not private aspects of identity was greater under camera self-focusing than under mirror or no self-focusing. The findings complement and extend previous research on the articulation of self-schemas as a function of self-focusing and self-consciousness.