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Identity Theory
The concept of identity has become widespread within the social and behavioral sciences in recent years, cutting across disciplines from psychiatry and psychology to political science and sociology. All individuals claim particular identities given their roles in society, groups they belong to, and characteristics that describe themselves.
Introduced almost 30 years ago, identity theory is a social psychological theory that attempts to understand identities, their sources in interaction and society, their processes of operation, and their consequences for interaction and society from a sociological perspective. This book describes identity theory, its origins, the research that supports it, and its future direction. It covers the relation between identity theory and other related theories, as well as the nature and operation of identities. In addition, the book discusses the multiple identities individuals hold from their multiple positions in society and organizations as well as the multiple identities activated by many people interacting in groups and organizations. And, it covers the manner in which identities offer both stability and change to individuals.
Written in an accessible style, Identity Theory makes, step by step, the full range of this powerful new theory understandable to readers at all levels.
Introduced almost 30 years ago, identity theory is a social psychological theory that attempts to understand identities, their sources in interaction and society, their processes of operation, and their consequences for interaction and society from a sociological perspective. This book describes identity theory, its origins, the research that supports it, and its future direction. It covers the relation between identity theory and other related theories, as well as the nature and operation of identities. In addition, the book discusses the multiple identities individuals hold from their multiple positions in society and organizations as well as the multiple identities activated by many people interacting in groups and organizations. And, it covers the manner in which identities offer both stability and change to individuals.
Written in an accessible style, Identity Theory makes, step by step, the full range of this powerful new theory understandable to readers at all levels.
272 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2009
41 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 3, 2013
The 2 stars are for the book as an artefact for enjoyable reading, not for Indentity Theory in itself.
There's nothing wrong with Identity Theory, but this book is not one that will enthuse students about the topic of identity, which is a really interesting area. It will also actively annoy many students.
The book is very, very dry*, subtly racist**, and heteronormative, with examples that constantly reinforce the most traditional and conservative gender roles***.
It also makes vast classist assumptions (which is highly worrying, coming from sociologists):
"Of course, being newlyweds, these are people who are in love with each other, have known and dated each other for some time, and found themselves compatible enough to get married.""
Not recommended.
* Dry
"If Tom perceives himself to be acting more feminine (+6) than his gender identity standard (+4), the output (−2) tells him to lower the degree of femininity in the meanings of his actions, perhaps by becoming more forceful in the situation. Taking this action will result in his changing the symbols in the situation. Because of that, Tom will perceive less femininity in his actions, and, because symbols are shared, others will see less femininity in his actions. If Tom has changed his behavior just right, he will see the degree of femininity of his behavior as +4, which will match his identity standard. At that point, the error will be zero, and he will not change his behavior patterns further. However, if Tom’s actions are not just right, he may perceive the femininity of his behavior as +5 or +3, for example. In either case, his new perceptions still do not match his gender identity standard, and an error signal of −1 or +1 will result, causing him to modify his behavior further . . . if Tom perceives 6 units of masculinity about himself in the situation, he will act to increase that amount if his standard is set at 8 units, but he will decrease that amount if his standard is set at 4 units. Similarly, if his standard is set at 6 units of masculinity, he will act to increase the level of masculinity he displays if he perceives 4 units of masculinity about himself in the situation."
** Racist
The generic characters the authors use for examples are Bill, Linda, Sue, Bob, Jane, Mary, Sarah, Scott the college basketball player, Alice, John, Joseph the store manager, Jennifer and Raphael the lawyers, Rachel, Jane, Dr Jackson the professor, Tom, Marvin the minister, James, "Manuel from the local heating company" and "Hector [who] is a truck driver who delivers gasoline."
*** Gender roles
Mary may find that it is convenient for her to take on some of the more traditionally masculine tasks in the household, such as doing some of the household repairs or taking care of the yard. By engaging in these traditionally more masculine tasks, perhaps because her husband is incompetent at them or incapacitated in some way from doing them, Mary is engaging in more masculine behaviors than exist in her spousal identity. (p. 187)
or
By talking with boys and girls in the relevant grades, [researchers] . . . ended up with thirty-four different bipolar adjective scales that were deemed as potentially important in defining the meaning of being a boy or a girl. . . . The five dimensions that worked best for everyone were soft/hard, weak/strong, girlish/boyish, not emotional/emotional, and rough/smooth. Two other dimensions that came close to being included but were not quite as good were clumsy/graceful and brave/cowardly. With that, it is now possible to examine the responses of boys and girls to the concepts “as a boy I am . . .” or “as a girl I am . . .” on these particular five bipolar adjectives to quantitatively characterize their own location along the dimension distinguishing what it means to be a boy or a girl.
or
For example, with respect to the mother identity, two sets of items are presented: one is positively worded, and one is negatively worded. In the positive set, women are asked how they would respond if complimented for being “Pretty,” “Intelligent,” “A good friend,” “A good mother,” and “Physically fit.” . . .
For the negative set, they are asked how they would respond if told they “Looked old,” “Were a poor student,” “Poor mother,” “Stubborn,” and “Overweight.”
There's nothing wrong with Identity Theory, but this book is not one that will enthuse students about the topic of identity, which is a really interesting area. It will also actively annoy many students.
The book is very, very dry*, subtly racist**, and heteronormative, with examples that constantly reinforce the most traditional and conservative gender roles***.
It also makes vast classist assumptions (which is highly worrying, coming from sociologists):
"Of course, being newlyweds, these are people who are in love with each other, have known and dated each other for some time, and found themselves compatible enough to get married.""
Not recommended.
* Dry
"If Tom perceives himself to be acting more feminine (+6) than his gender identity standard (+4), the output (−2) tells him to lower the degree of femininity in the meanings of his actions, perhaps by becoming more forceful in the situation. Taking this action will result in his changing the symbols in the situation. Because of that, Tom will perceive less femininity in his actions, and, because symbols are shared, others will see less femininity in his actions. If Tom has changed his behavior just right, he will see the degree of femininity of his behavior as +4, which will match his identity standard. At that point, the error will be zero, and he will not change his behavior patterns further. However, if Tom’s actions are not just right, he may perceive the femininity of his behavior as +5 or +3, for example. In either case, his new perceptions still do not match his gender identity standard, and an error signal of −1 or +1 will result, causing him to modify his behavior further . . . if Tom perceives 6 units of masculinity about himself in the situation, he will act to increase that amount if his standard is set at 8 units, but he will decrease that amount if his standard is set at 4 units. Similarly, if his standard is set at 6 units of masculinity, he will act to increase the level of masculinity he displays if he perceives 4 units of masculinity about himself in the situation."
** Racist
The generic characters the authors use for examples are Bill, Linda, Sue, Bob, Jane, Mary, Sarah, Scott the college basketball player, Alice, John, Joseph the store manager, Jennifer and Raphael the lawyers, Rachel, Jane, Dr Jackson the professor, Tom, Marvin the minister, James, "Manuel from the local heating company" and "Hector [who] is a truck driver who delivers gasoline."
*** Gender roles
Mary may find that it is convenient for her to take on some of the more traditionally masculine tasks in the household, such as doing some of the household repairs or taking care of the yard. By engaging in these traditionally more masculine tasks, perhaps because her husband is incompetent at them or incapacitated in some way from doing them, Mary is engaging in more masculine behaviors than exist in her spousal identity. (p. 187)
or
By talking with boys and girls in the relevant grades, [researchers] . . . ended up with thirty-four different bipolar adjective scales that were deemed as potentially important in defining the meaning of being a boy or a girl. . . . The five dimensions that worked best for everyone were soft/hard, weak/strong, girlish/boyish, not emotional/emotional, and rough/smooth. Two other dimensions that came close to being included but were not quite as good were clumsy/graceful and brave/cowardly. With that, it is now possible to examine the responses of boys and girls to the concepts “as a boy I am . . .” or “as a girl I am . . .” on these particular five bipolar adjectives to quantitatively characterize their own location along the dimension distinguishing what it means to be a boy or a girl.
or
For example, with respect to the mother identity, two sets of items are presented: one is positively worded, and one is negatively worded. In the positive set, women are asked how they would respond if complimented for being “Pretty,” “Intelligent,” “A good friend,” “A good mother,” and “Physically fit.” . . .
For the negative set, they are asked how they would respond if told they “Looked old,” “Were a poor student,” “Poor mother,” “Stubborn,” and “Overweight.”
January 2, 2025
Really excellent introduction to identify theory. It is already informing my exegetical work and how I interpret Biblical text for the congregation I serve.
May 28, 2014
An interesting though technical read, the theory explains how we navigate our various "identities." The research-based explanations included how we maintain and change our identities in relationship to ideas we have acquired about them, as well as how we reconcile conflicts between different identities. Finally, Burke and Stets also explain how verification and non-verification of our identities affect our self-concept and the consequences these have in our emotional states.
November 19, 2009
Overall, the book is a good medium to introduce students and young scholars to identity theory. I found that much of the analysis and theoretical content is related more to Identity Control Theory than Identity Theory, most likely the result of research agendas and who the authors are.
September 13, 2011
Good Stuff!
May 29, 2013
The best book on defining identity available.
June 20, 2013
awesome reviewreview review
May 14, 2016
I'm reading this for work and thus won't be dignifying it with a review.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews