<p>This is a very good question because psychology and its application will involve looking at what you are referring to in all sorts of ways.</p>
<p>To me, what you are referring to is <strong>congruence</strong>. One of the prominent people who discussed congruence was Carl Rogers, who developed the Person Centred approach to psychotherapy as opposed to the psychodynamic/psychoanalytic approach.</p>
<p>In its simple terms, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Rogers#Incongruity" rel="nofollow noreferrer">congruence</a> was referred to by Carl Rogers to involve the <em>real self</em> and the <em>ideal self</em>. In this simplified example, if your real (current/actually possible) self matches your &quot;ideal&quot; (sometimes impossible) self you have built in your mind, you are living congruently.</p>
<p>As I said, this is a very simplistic description for the initial introduction to the concept, and when you fully immerse yourself in the concept, it is multifaceted and lies at the heart of Carl Rogers' <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Rogers#Nineteen_propositions" rel="nofollow noreferrer">19 Propositions</a>.</p>
<p>You have self-image congruence, mood congruence, values congruence, political congruence, cultural congruence... The list goes on.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-15T06:35:27.363Z
2023-01-15T06:35:27.363Z
Chris Rogers
<p>Im trying to find out (for a paper) if there is a link between not being able to act according to ones own values, due to abuse or other factors, and depression.</p>
<p>My issue is that the only term I can think of is &quot;integrity&quot; and I havent found any literature investigating &quot;integrity&quot; and mental health outcomes.</p>
<p>So Im wondering if Im missing the correct term.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-15T04:08:24.680Z
Interesting.  Check [akrasia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akrasia) for potential leads.
Arnon Weinberg
<cognitive-psychology>
Is there a proper psychological term to describe "integrity" i.e. acting according to ones convictions/values?
Jim stoke
# Is there a proper psychological term to describe "integrity" i.e. acting according to ones convictions/values?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-01-15)

Im trying to find out (for a paper) if there is a link between not being able to act according to ones own values, due to abuse or other factors, and depression.

My issue is that the only term I can think of is "integrity" and I havent found any literature investigating "integrity" and mental health outcomes.

So Im wondering if Im missing the correct term.

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Interesting.  Check [akrasia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akrasia) for potential leads.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2023-01-15. Score: 1

This is a very good question because psychology and its application will involve looking at what you are referring to in all sorts of ways.

To me, what you are referring to is **congruence**. One of the prominent people who discussed congruence was Carl Rogers, who developed the Person Centred approach to psychotherapy as opposed to the psychodynamic/psychoanalytic approach.

In its simple terms, [congruence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Rogers#Incongruity) was referred to by Carl Rogers to involve the *real self* and the *ideal self*. In this simplified example, if your real (current/actually possible) self matches your "ideal" (sometimes impossible) self you have built in your mind, you are living congruently.

As I said, this is a very simplistic description for the initial introduction to the concept, and when you fully immerse yourself in the concept, it is multifaceted and lies at the heart of Carl Rogers' [19 Propositions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Rogers#Nineteen_propositions).

You have self-image congruence, mood congruence, values congruence, political congruence, cultural congruence... The list goes on.


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