Identity Theory

313 Pages·2023·13.683 MB·English

by  Peter J. Burke, Jan E. Stets

i
Identity Theory
ii
iii
IDENTITY THEORY
SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND EXPANDED
Peter J. Burke and Jan E. Stets
vi
Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers
the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education
by publishing worldwide. Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University
Press in the UK and certain other countries.
Published in the United States of America by Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States of America.
© Oxford University Press 2023
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the
prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted
by law, by license, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reproduction
rights organization. Inquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the
above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the
address above.
You must not circulate this work in any other form
and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Burke, Peter J. (Peter James), 1939– author. | Stets, Jan E., author.
Title: Identity theory / Peter J. Burke and Jan E. Stets.
Description: 2 Edition. | New York : Oxford University Press, [2023] |
Revised edition of the authors’ Identity theory, 2009. |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2022030826 (print) | LCCN 2022030827 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780197617182 (hardback) | ISBN 9780197617199 (paperback) |
ISBN 9780197617212 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Identity (Psychology)
Classification: LCC BF697. B855 2023 (print) | LCC BF697 (ebook) |
DDC 155.2—dc23/eng/20220915
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022030826
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022030827
DOI: 10.1093/ oso/ 9780197617182.001.0001
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Paperback printed by Marquis, Canada
Hardback printed by Bridgeport National Bindery, Inc., United States of America
v
To the community of identity scholars, their students,
and those who follow
vi
vii
Contents
Preface xiii
1. Agency and Social Structure 1
Introduction 1
Some Thoughts on Social Structure 2
Some Thoughts on Agency 6
Structural Symbolic Interaction 8
The Self 9
Signs, Symbols, and Language 10
Interaction 11
Structural Symbolic Interaction: An Overview 15
Overview of the Book 16
Suggested Reading 17
2. The Origins of Identity Theory 18
Introduction 18
Early Thinkers 19
William James 19
Charles Horton Cooley 20
Symbolic Interactionism 20
George Herbert Mead 21
Mind and Self 21
Signs and Symbols 23
Gestures 24
Sheldon Stryker 26
viii
viii Contents
Control Systems 28
Summary 33
Suggested Reading 33
3. The Development of Identity Theory 35
The Symbolic Interaction Roots of Identity Theory 35
Introducing Identity Theory 39
Early Thoughts on Identity 40
The Interactional Focus: George McCall
and J. L. Simmons 41
The Structural Focus: Sheldon Stryker 47
The Perceptual Control Focus: Peter J. Burke 52
Summary 56
Suggested Reading 59
4. Identity Meanings and Resources 60
Meaning 60
Signs and Symbols 61
Measuring Meaning 62
Measuring Meaning: An Example 65
Social Structure: Further Considerations 70
Resources 73
Resources as Process 74
Resources and the Support of Individuals 74
Resources and the Support of Interaction 75
Resources and Meaning 77
Bringing Identities Back In 79
Systems and Situations of Interaction 80
Identity Standards as Goals 82
Resources in Support of Identity Verification 83
Summary 85
Suggested Reading 86
5. The Characteristics of Identities 87
Prominence 87
Salience 89
Commitment 91
Connections Between Prominence, Salience, and
Commitment 91
Dispersion 94
Summary 98
Suggested Reading 100
6. The Identity Model 101
The Basic Components 105
xi
Contents ix
The Identity Standard 105
Perceptions 109
The Comparator 111
The Error 112
Behavior 112
Cognition 114
Emotions 115
Summary 116
Suggested Reading 118
7. Identity Verification: Processes 119
Controlling (Perceptions of) the Situation 120
Failure at Controlling (Perceptions of) the Situation 123
Four Types of Interruptions 124
Identity Verification Studies 126
Swann and Hill (1982) 126
Riley and Burke (1995) 129
Burke and Harrod (2005) 131
Burke and Stets (1999) 133
Measuring the Effects of Identity Verification 135
Summary 139
Suggested Reading 139
8. Sources and Outcomes of Identity Verification 140
Sources of Identity Verification 140
Outcomes of Identity Nonverification 142
Cognitive Responses 142
Behavioral Responses 147
Emotional Responses 151
Research on Emotions and Verification 152
Other Issues 156
Emotions as a Resource 156
Moods 157
Self- Esteem 158
Specific Emotions 160
Moral Emotions 162
Summary 164
Suggested Reading 165
9. Bases of Identities 166
Role Identities 168
Person Identities 171
Group and Categorical Identities 173
Integrating Person, Role, Group, and Categorical Identities 176