The Microsociology of Self and Identity

In this chapter, we present an overview of identity theory and the identity verification process, as well as the different bases on which identities are built and the relation between identities, self-esteem, and emotions. Following the point of view of Jonathan Turner, we consider how the many identities that individuals have relate to each other and to other social processes, including exchange, status, and power, as well as the way in which identities tie individuals to society and the general social structure through the control of resources and resource flows. Finally, we discuss the future of identity theory to better understand how identities come into being and develop over time on the one hand and how identity processes can be better integrated into micro, meso, and macro level theories of society on the other hand. We address an interdisciplinary approach that attends to the many different categoric, role, and person identities involved in any situation of interaction and how they relate to each other and to the situation.