Identity (social science)

Identity is the set of qualities, beliefs, personality traits, appearance, or expressions that characterize a person or a group. It helps us understand who we are and who others think we are.

Identity begins to form during childhood as kids start to understand themselves. It changes and grows throughout life, shaped by our families, cultures, and the way others see us. People can have many kinds of identities, such as religious, national, ethnic, or gender identities, among others.

In sociology, identity is often linked to the groups we belong to, like our family or community. These group memberships help guide how we behave. In psychology, identity refers to the unique qualities that make each person special. It is connected to how we see ourselves, our self-esteem, and our sense of being an ongoing, steady self.

Usage

In 1998, Mark Mazower pointed out that during the 1970s, the word "identity" was taken from social psychology and used widely to describe societies, nations, and groups. Over time, some communities have linked identity to feelings of being unwell.

In psychology

Erik Erikson (1902–94) was one of the first psychologists to study identity closely. He believed that people develop a sense of who they are, called the ego identity, through their whole lives. This identity includes personal traits and the way society and culture shape us.

Erikson thought that identity is especially important during teenage years. He said that people who don’t think about their identity might feel confused, while those who don’t question their identity might not know other options. Later, James Marcia built on Erikson’s ideas, creating a model with four identity statuses: diffusion (not thinking about identity), foreclosure (choosing an identity without exploring), moratorium (exploring but not choosing yet), and achievement (exploring and choosing an identity).

In social psychology

Self-psychology looks at how our personal self connects with the world around us. Some theories explain how people act in groups by focusing on their thoughts and feelings. Other theories look at how identity works for both individuals and groups.

People often feel good about themselves when they belong to a group, which helps them feel like they are part of a larger community. Researchers also study why people sometimes treat others unfairly, especially those who are not in their group.

Different situations can make people feel like they belong to different groups, and this can change how they see themselves. Education and jobs play a big role in shaping our identities.

Kenneth Gergen described different ways people think about their identities. One way is to see identity as something that changes with each role we play. Another way is to see identity as many different roles we can try out. A third way is to think of identity as something we build through our connections with others. These ideas developed as culture and technology changed.

In social anthropology

Anthropologists often study identity, which is how people see themselves and how they connect to others. This idea became more important in the 1970s when people started caring more about ethnicity and groups that work together for change social movements.

Some believe identity is fixed, like sharing the same ancestry or biological characteristics. Others think identity is chosen, shaped by personal decisions. Both views are influenced by history and debates about class, race, and ethnicity.

Identity is hard to define because it changes and is experienced differently by each person. Some scholars see it as a process, always evolving with life experiences. Others focus on how people use markers like language, dress, and behaviour to show who they are. These markers create boundaries that can include or exclude others, depending on how they are understood.

In religion

Main article: Religious identity

A religious identity is formed through beliefs, practices, and traditions that connect a person to a community of faith. It often starts with the beliefs and practices of a person's family and may change as the person grows and makes their own choices.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep shows how important it is to find and welcome back someone who has been lost. It teaches about caring for others and bringing them back into the group.

Christian meditation is a way people spend time thinking deeply about their faith and learning more about contemplation of a higher power.

In Western culture, many ideas about personal identity have been shaped by Christianity. Over time, thinkers in Europe have also been influenced by Greek culture and Jewish culture, creating new movements like Philhellenism and Philosemitism.

Implications

Identity has many roles, like helping us understand ourselves and giving us a sense of purpose. It affects many parts of our lives.

Identity can change in different situations. For example, when someone changes their job, they might need to see themselves in a new way. People moving to a new country also face changes in how they see themselves as they adapt to new cultures. Similarly, facing a serious illness can change how someone sees themselves and how they live their life. These changes help people grow and adapt to new experiences.

Factors shaping the concept of identity

The idea of personal identity as something special and unique for each person started to grow in the early 1900s with the first passports. It became more popular as a topic in social science in the 1950s. Many things have helped shape how we think about identity today.

Ideas from Protestant traditions, the growth of Psychology, and the rise of privacy during the Renaissance all added to this. As work became more specialized during the industrial period, jobs also started to play a big role in how people saw themselves. Later, ideas about gender identity and different ways people see themselves helped make our understanding of identity even broader.