Identity, Social-Psychological Aspects of

The concept of “identity” is most relevant to the domains of “race”, ethnicity andnation, given that these social categories can gain particular social and psychological traction when they are construed as forms of self-definition. This essay provides a brief overview of social psychological approaches to identity, focusing specifically upon the contribution of Identity Process Theory (IPT) to the social psychology of identity. It is argued that an integrative theory such as IPT is necessary for a holistic understanding of the antecedents and consequences of identity in relation to “race”, ethnicity and nationalism