Synonyms
Definition
Identity refers to an individual’s organized constellation of traits; attitudes; self-knowledge; cognitive structures; past, present, and future self-representations; social roles; relationships; and group affiliations. Together these characteristics define who one is, heavily influence how one thinks about the self and the social world, and provide the impetus for many behaviors, judgments, and decisions.
Introduction
Self and identity as topics of intellectual inquiry have been a prominent focus of scholarly interest for centuries. Notable philosophers such as Descartes, Kant, Locke, and Hume (among others) all offered commentary on the nature of selfhood and identity (Leary and Tangney 2012). Many years later William James sparked interest in the systematic study of identity with his hallmark chapter on “The Consciousness of Self” (James 1890). Fast-forward to today and the scientific study of self and identity continues to hold a prominent...
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References
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Guenther, C., Wilton, E., Fernandes, R. (2016). Identity. 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_1132-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1132-1
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