Self and identity

Self and Identity is a subfield of psychology. As the name implies, it deals with topics pertaining to both self and identity. Key areas of investigation include self-concept, self-esteem, and self-control.

What distinguishes self and identity as a discipline is its scientific character. Emphasis is placed on the empirical testing of systematic theories about relevant phenomena. Hence, its methodological approach differs from both philosophy and sociology.

Self and Identity incorporates elements from different areas of psychology. However, it owes particularly large debt to personality psychology and social psychology.

There are two levels of analysis that one can look at self and identity. One level of analysis is the self on the individual level for example: self-states, self-motives, self-esteem, self-efficacy, etc. Self-states are self-process that include unbiased self awareness. However, self-motives are more serious impulses to action, something that is innate and universal to all.

The other level of analysis is on the societal or cultural level for example: the cultural conception of a person, cultural arrangements that make the person who they are and the cultural concept of self.

Self and identity is highly contingent upon culture. In industrialized Western cultures, the concept of self is based solely on independence.

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