Abstract:  The self-concept is not a singular and monolithic cognitive structure. Instead, it comprises three fundamental components: the individual self, the relational self and the collective self. From the perspective of motivational primacy, there are four potential hypotheses for the hierarchy of tripartite self): a. individual-self primacy hypothesis, b. relational-self primacy hypothesis, c. collective-self primacy hypothesis, d. contextual primacy hypothesis. The integrated results of previous studies based on motivational perspectives tend to support individual-self primacy hypothesis, but the effects caused by other potential variables still remains to be verified. Nevertheless, considering the hierarchical status of the tripartite self from the cognitive perspectives, results of previous researches are inconsistent. Meanwhile, the integrated research in which the cognitive hierarchical status of the tripartite self can be compared is also inadequate. It requires to focus more on new experimental paradigms which can integrate the tripartite self in future researches, thus to promote the analysis and studies regarding hierarchical status of the tripartite self.

Key words:  self, tripartite self, Hierarchical status, motivational perspectives, cognitive perspectives