Thursday, 27 August 2015

Contemporary Social Psychological Theories,
Ed. Peter J Burke, Stanford University Press, 2006,
Chapter 5 "Identity Theory" (pp. 88-110), page 90

Stets' fifth assertion introduces a third basis for identity:

These identities are known as person identities. A person identity is the set of meanings that are tied to and sustain the self as an individual rather than sustaining a group or role. Like group and role identities, culture influences the important dimensions of meaning that form the basis of person identities. For example, our society may encourage meanings of who weare in terms of dominance and submissiveness, or in terms of what is good or bad. These meanings that form different person identities operate across various roles and situations: for example, we might have a controlling employer, husband and father, or a worker, wife and mother who has a high level or morality.

This then overlays qualities, measures and metrics over an identity: how well or in what manner you carry out your role or express your identity.