Self and Identity

The Self

I vs. ME
The SELF is the individual viewed as both
the source and the object of reflexive
behavior
 Origins of the Self

Self-Differentiation Role Taking

 Origins of the Self

Cooley’s (1902) Looking Glass Self

Origins of the Self

Play vs. Gam

e
Origins of the Self

Photo Credit: Shaunmarlon/Deviantart

The Generalized Others
 Origins of the Self

Online Communication and the

Self
Origins of the Self

Self-Evaluation
 Identities

“Identities are the meanings

attached to the self by one’s
self and others” (Gecas and
Burke, 1995).
Comm 10 Student Identities
What part of your identity do you feel least comfortable with at
UP?
Stereotypes Various
3% 3%
Socio-economic
Status Age First Language
7% Sex 10% 7%
4%
Intelligence
4%

Religion
24%
None
31%

Personality
7%
Sources of Identities

Social Group
Roles Membership
 Identity Construction

Personal

Enacted Relational
IDENTIT
Y
Communal

Communication Theory of Identity (Hecht,

2009)
 Personal Identity

Encompasses
the individual’s
self-concepts or
self-images

Photo Credit: http://traditionalevolution.blogspot.com/2018/05/harmful-self-perception.html

Enacted Identity

The performance
or expression of
identity
Relational Identity

• Ascribed relational
identity
• Identification through
relationships with
other people
• Identity in relation to
other identity
• The relationship itself
Communal Identity

A characteristic of
a group or
collective, how
they define their
identity.
Identity Gaps

Discrepancies
between or among
the four frames of
identity