Self and Identity

by Megan E Birney

Self and The Basics is a jargon-free and accessible introduction that draws on key theories and ideas in Social Psychology to explore the ways that other people affect our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Highlighting selfhood as a function of identity, the book shows that it is our relationships with others in our social world that largely determine who we are. "Who am I?" It’s a question that most all humans have grappled with at some point or another. This book seeks to answer this question through relatable examples that show how psychological theory can be applied to our own lives. It considers the philosophical and psychological context in which ideas about selfhood have developed and reviews the ways that the people around us, and the groups that we belong to, affect who we are. Finally, these ideas are considered in the context of real-world phenomena and behaviours; for instance, how we use language, conflict between groups, and social influence. With a glossary of key terms, suggestions for further reading, and chapter summaries, this book is an ideal introduction for students of social psychology and related fields. It will be of interest to anyone who wants to gain social psychological insight into who they are and how others got them there.

Genres: Psychology

168 pages, Paperback

Published June 12, 2023

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad I picked it up.

Much of this book acted as a refresher across a breadth of fields I have read around before i.e. convergence/divergence of register, studies on tyranny such as the SPE, and the BBC prison experiment, stigma.

I certainly think it is worth the read as an introduction to social psychology. However, I felt the (likely intentional) shift in tone in the latter half of the book soured what had up until then been a relatively bipartisan presentation of theory. Though I largely agree with the left wing/progressive ideological positions the writer takes, it feels somewhat forced and unnecessary.