Identity Theory
Version:1 / 1 Updated Date:11/12/2014 Original Contributor:Jake Frederick Latest Contributor:Jake Frederick
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Key Words
identity, social psychology
Background / Metatheory:
Identity theory was born out of Sheldon Stryker's efforts to develop a more tractable theory from the symbolic interactionism framework. The purpose of the theory is to explain how people gain identities and when/how these identities influence their behavior.
Terms & Definitions:
- negative_evaluation - unsupportive response to behavior
- network_of_relationships - a set of actors whose ties render them reachable by one another
- positive_evaluation - supportive response to behavior
- role - a cluster of duties, righs, and obligations associated with a particular social position
- salience - the psychological prominence or conspicuousness of a concept
- social_position - any socially recognized category of actors
- values - beliefs about what is important
- commitment - the extent to which P's relationships require P to perform a role
- counter-role - a role associated with a social position which is defined in relation to another social position
- identity - perception of oneself as an occupant of a role
- role_expectation - expectations for role performance
- role_performance - behavior enacted when fulfilling a role
- related_identities - identities which are based on the same role or on a counter-role
Scope Conditions:
- Identity salience is greater than 0.
- P has multiple roles from which to choose.
- There is consensus on the duties, rights, and obligations entailed by a given social position.
- P prefers positive evaluations to negative evaluations.
Propositions:
- The greater the commitment premised on an identity, the more positive will be the evaluation of that identity.
- The more positive the evaluation of an identity, the more salient will be that identity.
- The greater the commitment premised on an identity, the more salient will be that identity.
- The more a network_of_relationships is premised on an identity relative to other potential identities, the more salient will be that identity.
- The more people in a network_of_commitment premised on an identity for whom related_identities are highly salient, the more salient will be the identity.
- The more salient an identity, the more consistent role_performances will be with role_expectations.
- The more salient an identity, the more a situation will be perceived as an opportunity to perform the role underlying the identity.
- The more salient an identity, the more opportunities to perform the role underlying the identity will be sought out.
- The more salient an identity, the more role_performances will reflect generally shared norms and values.
