Examining Self-Perceptions of Identity Change in Person, Role, and Social Identities

Recent work in the literature on identity has begun to examine differences in the operation of person, role, and social identities, and how each base of identity links to specific outcomes of the self. In this study we employ a cross-sectional research design and examine how individuals perceive that they have changed as a type of person, role player, and group member, and how these perceived changes link to specific outcomes of the self. An online survey was administered to 854 study participants to measure the magnitude and direction of change they perceived occurred in twelve discrete identities in a six-month period prior to completing the survey. The results show that in reflecting on their past experience, study participants perceived that they experienced more change in their role identities compared to their person and social identities. The results also show that the magnitude of perceived change in any type of identity relates to negative emotions, and when individuals perceive that their identity change is progressive in nature it relates to greater authenticity, self-efficacy, self-worth, and positive emotions. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Automated summary

The study found that individuals perceived more changes in their role identities compared to their person and social identities when reflecting on their past experiences. The magnitude of perceived change in any type of identity was related to negative emotions, but if the change was perceived as progressive, it was linked to greater authenticity, self-efficacy, self-worth, and positive emotions.