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Handbook of Identity Theory and Research pp 403–432Cite as

Identity Motives

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Abstract

In this chapter, I review the literature on motivated identity construction, drawing together insights and evidence from diverse theoretical perspectives, and I propose the foundations of an integrative model. Evidence suggests that people are motivated not only to see themselves in a positive light (the self-esteem motive), but also to believe that their identities are continuous over time despite significant life changes (the continuity motive), that they are distinguished from other people (the distinctiveness motive), that their lives are meaningful (the meaning motive), that they are competent and capable of influencing their environments (the efficacy motive), and that they are included and accepted within their social contexts (the belonging motive). Each of these motives has a theoretical basis for universality, but different cultures may develop different ways of satisfying them, so that the same underlying motives may have very different consequences in different cultural contexts. People are not necessarily aware of their identity motives, and there is often little or no correlation between people’s self-reported motives and the results of more implicit measures. Paying attention to the multiplicity of identity motives will potentially enrich applications of identity theories in virtually any domain.

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Acknowledgments

Preparation of this chapter was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (UK) grant number RES-062-23-1300. I thank Maja Becker, Rupert Brown, Claudia Cerrina, Matt Easterbrook, Jochen Gebauer, Ellinor Owe, Jonas Rees, and Linda Tip for their useful comments on a previous draft.

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    Vivian L. Vignoles

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  1. Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Public He, University of Miami, N.W. 10th Avenue, Suite 321 1425, Miami, 33136, Florida, USA

    Seth J. Schwartz

  2. , Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, Leuven, 3000, Belgium

    Koen Luyckx

  3. School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QH, United Kingdom

    Vivian L. Vignoles

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Vignoles, V.L. (2011). Identity Motives. In: Schwartz, S., Luyckx, K., Vignoles, V. (eds) Handbook of Identity Theory and Research. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7988-9_18

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