The Michelangelo model in emotional and cognitive regulation mechanisms in identity contouring
The Michelangelo model in emotional and cognitive regulation mechanisms in identity contouring

Summary/Abstract: The article examines the process of self-development from an interdisciplinary perspective, integrating concepts from cognitive psychology, relational psychology, and an artistic framework inspired by the vision of Michelangelo Buonarroti. Building on the sculptural metaphor of releasing form from raw material, identity is conceptualized as a gradual process of revelation shaped by the interaction between internal cognitive structures and relational experiences. The paper explores the role of cognitive schemas in organizing experience, the function of relationships in shaping the self-concept, and the contribution of emotion regulation mechanisms to identity stability. The Michelangelo model is employed to explain how significant relationships support the actualization of the ideal self through validation and co-creative processes. The study advances an integrative understanding of self-development as a relational dynamic, where identity emerges through the regulation of internal tensions and continuous adaptation to context.

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