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Swann, William B.

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Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences

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Identity Fusion

  • Buhrmester, M. D., Fraser, W. T., Lanman, J., Whitehouse, H., & Swann Jr., W. B. (2014). When terror hits home: Identity fused Americans who saw Boston bombing victims as “family” provided aid. Self and Identity 14, 1–18.

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  • Fredman, L. A., Bastian, B., & Swann, W. B., Jr. (in press). God or country? Fusion with Judaism predicts desire for retaliation following Palestinian Stabbing Intifada. Social and Personality Psychological Science.

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  • Gómez, Á., Morales, J. F., Hart, S., Vázquez, A., & Swann Jr., W. B. (2011a). Rejected and excluded forevermore, but even more devoted: Irrevocable ostracism intensifies loyalty to the group among identity fused persons. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 37, 1574–1586.

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  • Gómez, Á., Brooks, M. L., Buhrmester, M. D., Vázquez, A., Jetten, J., & Swann Jr., W. B. (2011b). On the nature of identity fusion: Insights into the construct and a new measure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 100, 918–933.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., & Buhrmester, M. (2015). Identity fusion. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 24, 52–57.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Gómez, A., Seyle, C., Morales, J. F., & Huici, C. (2009). Identity fusion: The interplay of personal and social identities in extreme group behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96, 995–1011.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Gómez, A., Huici, C., Morales, F., & Hixon, J. G. (2010a). Identity fusion and self-sacrifice: Arousal as catalyst of pro-group fighting, dying and helping behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 99, 824–841.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Gómez, A., Dovidio, J., Hart, S., & Jetten, J. (2010b). Dying and killing for one’s group: Identity fusion moderates responses to intergroup versions of the trolley problem. Psychological Science, 21, 1176–1183.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Jetten, J., Gómez, Á., Whitehouse, H., & Bastian, B. (2012). When group membership gets personal: A theory of identity fusion. Psychological Review, 119, 441–456.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Buhrmester, M., Gómez, Á., Jetten, J., Bastian, B., Vázquez, A., et al. (2014). What makes a group worth dying for? Identity fusion fosters perception of familial ties, promoting self-sacrifice. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 106, 912–926.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Gómez, Á., Vázquez, A., Guillamón, A., Segovia, S., & Carillo, B. (2015). Fusion with the cross-gender group predicts genital sex reassignment surgery. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 44(5), 1313–1318.

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  • Whitehouse, H., McQuinn, B., Buhrmester, M., & Swann Jr., W. B. (2014). Brothers in arms: Libyan revolutionaries bond like family. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(50), 17783–17785.

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Morality

  • Bastian, B., Bain, P., Buhrmester, M. D., Gómez, Á., Vázquez, A., Knight, C. G., & Swann Jr., W. B. (2015). Moral vitalism: Seeing good and evil as real, agentic forces. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 41(8), 1069–1081.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Gómez, A., Buhrmester, M. D., López-Rodríguez, L., Jiménez, J., & Vázquez, A. (2014). Contemplating the ultimate sacrifice: Identity fusion channels pro-group affect, cognition, and moral decision-making. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 106, 713–727. (*also listed in “Identity Fusion” section above).

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Identity Negotiation and Behavioral Confirmation

  • Bosson, J. K., Johnson, A. B., Niederhoffer, K., & Swann Jr., W. B. (2006). Interpersonal chemistry through negativity: Bonding by sharing negative attitudes about others. Personal Relationships, 13, 135–150.

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  • McNulty, S. E., & Swann Jr., W. B. (1994). Identity negotiation in roommate relationships: The self as architect and consequence of social reality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 1012–1023.

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  • Polzer, J. T., Milton, L. P., & Swann Jr., W. B. (2002). Capitalizing on diversity: Interpersonal congruence in small work groups. Administrative Science Quarterly, 47, 296–324.

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  • Snyder, M., & Swann Jr., W. B. (1978a). Hypothesis testing processes in social interaction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36, 1202–1212.

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  • Snyder, M., & Swann Jr., W. B. (1978b). Behavioral confirmation in social interaction: From social perception to social reality. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 14, 148–162.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B. (1987). Identity negotiation: Where two roads meet. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53, 1038–1051.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., & Bosson, J. (2008). Identity negotiation: A theory of self and social interaction. In O. John, R. Robins, & L. Pervin (Eds.), Handbook of personality psychology: Theory and research (pp. 448–471). New York: Guilford.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Stein-Seroussi, A., & McNulty, S. (1992). Outcasts in a white lie society: The enigmatic worlds of people with negative self-conceptions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 62, 618–624.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Milton, L. P., & Polzer, J. T. (2000). Should we create a niche or fall in line? Identity negotiation and small group effectiveness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 238–250.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Kwan, V. S. Y., Polzer, J. T., Milton, L. P. (2003). Vanquishing stereotypic perceptions via individuation and self-verification: Waning of gender expectations in small groups. Social Cognition, 21, 194–212.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Polzer, J. T., Seyle, C., & Ko, S. (2004). Finding value in diversity: Verification of personal and social self-views in diverse groups. Academy of Management Review, 29, 9–27.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Johnson, R. E., & Bosson, J. (2009). Identity negotiation in the workplace. In B. Staw & A. Brief (Eds.), Research in organizational behavior (Vol. 29, pp. 81–109). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

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Self-Verification and Self-Enhancement

  • Brooks, M. L., Swann Jr., W. B., & Mehta, P. H. (2011). Reasserting the self: Blocking self-verifying behavior triggers compensatory self-verification. Self & Identity, 10, 77–84.

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  • Giesler, R. B., & Swann Jr., W. B. (1999). Self-verification and depression. In T. Joiner & J. C. Coyne (Eds.), Recent advances in interpersonal approaches to depression. Washington: American Psychological Association.

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  • Giesler, R. B., Josephs, R. A., & Swann Jr., W. B. (1996). Self-verification in clinical depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 105, 358–368.

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  • Gómez, A., Seyle, C., Huici, C., & Swann Jr., W. B. (2009). Can self-verification strivings fully transcend the self-other barrier? Seeking verification of ingroup identities. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 97, 1021–1044.

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  • Hixon, J. G., & Swann Jr., W. B. (1993). When does introspection bear fruit? Self-reflection, self-insight, and interpersonal choices. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 64, 35–43.

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  • Kwang, T., & Swann Jr., W. B. (2010). Do people embrace praise even when they feel unworthy? A review of critical tests of self-enhancement versus self-verification. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 14, 263–280.

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  • Seih, Y., Buhrmester, M. D., Lin, Y., Huang, C., & Swann Jr., W. B. (2013). Do people want to be flattered or understood? The cross-cultural universality of self-verification. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 49, 169–172.

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  • Seyle, C., & Swann Jr., W. B. (2007). Being oneself in the workplace: Self-verification and identity in organizational contexts. In C. A. Bartel, S. Blader, & A. Wrzesniewski (Eds.), Identity and the modern organization (pp. 201–222). Hillsdale: Erlbaum.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B. (1983). Self-verification: Bringing social reality into harmony with the self. In J. Suls & A. G. Greenwald (Eds.), Social psychological perspectives on the self (Vol. 2, pp. 33–66). Hillsdale: Erlbaum.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B. (1990). To be adored or to be known: The interplay of self-enhancement and self-verification. In R. M. Sorrentino & E. T. Higgins (Eds.), Foundations of social behavior (Vol. 2, pp. 408–448). New York: Guilford.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B. (1992). Seeking truth, finding despair: Some unhappy consequences of a negative self-concept. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 1, 15–18.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B. (1996). Self-traps: The elusive quest for higher self-esteem. New York: Freeman. [reprinted in paperback in 1999 as Resilient Identities: Self, relationships, and the construction of social reality. Basic books: New York].

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  • Swann Jr., W. B. (2012). Self-verification theory. In P. Van Lang, A. Kruglanski, & E.T. Higgins (Eds.). Handbook of theories of social psychology (pp. 23–42). London: Sage.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., & Ely, R. J. (1984). A battle of wills: Self-verification versus behavioral confirmation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 1287–1302.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., & Hill, C. A. (1982). When our identities are mistaken: Reaffirming self-conceptions through social interaction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 43, 59–66.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., & Pelham, B. W. (2002). Who wants out when the going gets good? Psychological investment and preference for self-verifying college roommates. Journal of Self and Identity, 1, 219–233.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., & Predmore, S. C. (1985). Intimates as agents of social support: Sources of consolation or despair? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 49, 1609–1617.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., & Read, S. J. (1981a). Self-verification processes: How we sustain our self-conceptions. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 17, 351–372.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., & Read, S. J. (1981b). Acquiring self-knowledge: The search for feedback that fits. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 41, 1119–1128.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., & Schroeder, D. G. (1995). The search for beauty and truth: A framework for understanding reactions to evaluations. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 21, 1307–1318.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Griffin, J. J., Predmore, S., & Gaines, B. (1987). The cognitive-affective crossfire: When self-consistency confronts self-enhancement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 881–889.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Pelham, B. W., & Chidester, T. (1988). Change through paradox: Using self-verification to alter beliefs. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 268–273.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Pelham, B. W., & Krull, D. S. (1989). Agreeable fancy or disagreeable truth? How people reconcile their self-enhancement and self-verification needs. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 782–791.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Hixon, G., Stein-Seroussi, A., & Gilbert, D. T. (1990). The fleeting gleam of praise: Behavioral reactions to self-relevant feedback. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, 17–26.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Wenzlaff, R. M., & Tafarodi, R. W. (1992). Depression and the search for negative evaluations: More evidence of the role of self-verification strivings. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 101, 314–317.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Wenzlaff, R. M., Krull, D. S., & Pelham, B. W. (1992). The allure of negative feedback: Self-verification strivings among depressed persons. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 101, 293–306.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Stein-Seroussi, A., & Giesler, B. (1992). Why people self-verify. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 62, 392–401.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., De La Ronde, C., & Hixon, J. G. (1994). Authenticity and positivity strivings in marriage and courtship. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 66, 857–869. [reprinted in Psychology of Close Relationships (H.T. Reis, Ed.), Sage: Washington].

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Bosson, J. K., & Pelham, B. W. (2002). Different partners, different selves: The verification of circumscribed identities. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28, 1215–1228.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Rentfrow, P. J., & Guinn, J. (2003). Self-verification: The search for coherence. In M. Leary & J. Tagney (Eds.), Handbook of self and identity (pp. 367–383). New York: Guilford.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Chang-Schneider, C., & Angulo, S. (2007). Self-verification in relationships as an adaptive process. In J. Wood, A. Tesser, & J. Holmes (Eds.), Self and relationships (pp. 49–72). New York: Psychology Press.

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  • Wiesenfeld, B. M., Swann Jr., W. B., Brockner, J., & Bartel, C. (2007). Is more fairness always preferred? Self-esteem moderates reactions to procedural justice. Academy of Management Journal, 50, 1235–1253.

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Self-View/Self-Esteem Conceptualization and Measurement

  • Bosson, J., Swann Jr., W. B., & Pennebaker, J. (2000). Stalking the perfect measure of implicit self-esteem: The blind men and the elephant revisited? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 631–643.

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  • Buhrmester, M. D., Blanton, H., & Swann Jr., W. B. (2011). Implicit self-esteem: Nature, measurement, and a new way forward. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 100, 365–385.

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  • Pelham, B. W., & Swann Jr., W. B. (1989). From self-conceptions to self-worth: The sources and structure of self-esteem. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 672–680.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B. Chang-Schneider, C. & McClarty, K. (2007). Do our self-views matter? Self-concept and self-esteem in everyday life. American Psychologist, 62, 84–94.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B. & Bosson, J. (2010). Self and Identity. In S. T. Fiske, D. T. Gilbert, & G. Lindzey (Eds.), Handbook of social psychology (5th ed., pp. 589–628). New York: McGraw-Hill.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., & Buhrmester, M. D. (2012). Self as functional fiction. Social Cognition, 30, 415–430.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., & Seyle, C. (2006). The antecedents of self-esteem. In M. Kernis (Ed.), Self-esteem: Issues and answers (pp. 201–207). East Sussex: Psychology Press.

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  • Tafarodi, R. W., & Swann Jr., W. B. (1995). Self-liking and self-competence as dimensions of global self-esteem: Initial validation of a measure. Journal of Personality Assessment, 65, 322–342.

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  • Tafarodi, R. W., & Swann Jr., W. B. (2001). Two-dimensional self-esteem: Theory and measurement. Personality and Individual Differences, 31, 653–673.

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Social Perception and Attribution

  • Gill, M. J., & Swann Jr., W. B. (2004). On what it means to know someone: A matter of pragmatics. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 86, 405–418.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B. (1984). The quest for accuracy in person perception: A matter of pragmatics. Psychological Review, 91, 457–477.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., & Gill, M. J. (1997). Confidence and accuracy in person perception: Do we know what we think we know about our relationship partners? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 747–757.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., & Pittman, T. S. (1977). Initiating play activity of children: The moderating influence of verbal cues on intrinsic motivation. Child Development, 48, 1128–1132.

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  • Gill, M. J., Swann Jr., W. B., & Silvera, D. H. (1998). On the genesis of confidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 1101–1114.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Stephenson, B., & Pittman, T. S. (1980). Curiosity and control: On the determinants of the search for social knowledge. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 40, 635–642.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Giuliano, T., & Wegner, D. M. (1982). Where leading questions can lead: The power of conjecture in social interaction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 42, 1025–1035.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., Pelham, B. W., & Roberts, D. (1987). Causal chunking: Memory and inference in ongoing interaction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53, 858–865.

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Personality

  • Angulo, S., Brooks, M. L., & Swann Jr., W. B. (2011). Swimming serenely in a sea of words: Sexism, communication, and precarious couples. Personal Relationships, 18, 604–616.

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  • Gosling, S. D., Rentfrow, P. J., & Swann Jr., W. B. (2003). A very brief measure of the big five personality domains. Journal of Research in Personality, 37, 504–528.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., & Rentfrow, P. J. (2001). Blirtatiousness: Cognitive, interpersonal, and physiological consequences of rapid responding. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81(6), 1160–1175.

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  • Swann Jr., W. B., & Seyle, C. (2005). Personality psychology’s comeback and its emerging symbiosis with social psychology. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 31, 155–165.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    William Swann

Authors
  1. William Swann
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Correspondence to William Swann .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oakland University, Rochester, USA

    Virgil Zeigler-Hill

  2. Oakland University, Rochester, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK, USA

    Alicia Limke

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Swann, W. (2017). Swann, William B.. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_439-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_439-1

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