Social Psychology - Self and Identity

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe fundamental distinctions between three different perspectives on the self: the self as actor, agent, and author.

2. Understand some of the social factors that influence how we reason.

Perspectives of self

The concept of self-identity is reflexive in nature. William James described the self as “what happens when the ‘I’ reflects back on the ‘me’”. This reflection is mainly viewed through three perspectives: the self as a social actor, a motivated agent, and an autobiographical author. These different perspectives are had by people at different stages in their lives and through them, allow people to present themselves in ways that are digestible to them.

The “Social Actor” emerges in the early stages of life. Around two years old, children begin to develop an awareness of how others perceive them. They can also recognize themselves in mirrors, and they begin to use words like “me” and “mine.” Around this time people develop emotions like pride, shame, and guilt, which help people regulate their behavior to align with the group’s expectations. The “Social” Actor centers on social roles and personality, which form the base of a person’s social reputation.

The “Motivated Agent” usually develops by five years old when a child gains a theory of mind, which is an understanding that other people have their own desires and intentions. During this stage, people begin to have goals and values. As people grow older, they actively work on forming a coherent identity by aligning their life choices with personal values and goals.

The “Autobiographical Author” emerges in adolescence. This stage is characterized by constructing a narrative identity. A narrative identity is like a story of one’s past, present, and imagined future. Storytelling allows people to make a sense of purpose, often shaped by cultural influences. The “Autobiographical Author” also allows people to view their lives in continuity rather than in random individual events. For instance, many Americans embrace redemptive narratives that frame personal adversity as a path to growth and achievement.

Together, these three perspectives provide a comprehensive and functional understanding of the self. Identity evolves throughout life and is shaped by social interaction, motivation, and the stories through which we frame ourselves.

Social Factors

Human reasoning is profoundly shaped by social factors. From an early age, our understanding of ourselves and the world is created through interactions with others. Social influences shape how we think, interpret experiences, and allow us to frame who we are.

Reflected appraisal is how people come to see themselves based on how others react to them. We develop a sense of self by observing how others respond to our behavior. This mirrors back a sense of identity, influencing how we reason about our capabilities, roles, and expectations. Children use this feedback to form an early understanding of traits such as being “nice” or “helpful,” and over time, are able to evaluate new situations and make decisions.

Social roles and expectations also guide reasoning. As social actors, individuals adopt roles like student, friend, or sibling, which come with behavioral norms. These norms establish what is appropriate, valuable, or effective behavior in a given context. Emotions like guilt and pride guide one’s behavior to align with group norms, which reinforces particular patterns of thought.

Narratives and values frame our interpretations of life events. These stories offer scripts for understanding success, failure, and personal transformation. Through internal storytelling and conversation, individuals internalize these scripts and use them to reason about their own lives.

Identity Crises

Erik Erikson proposed that many people experience a tumultuous identity crisis during adolescence. This argument is still valid today. The increased presence of social media, the changing professional world, and financial insecurity have greatly increased the challenges young people face in forming a comprehensive sense of self.

There is so much stress during adolescence and early adulthood that many people struggle to have concrete values and goals. Young people might constantly switch majors at university, career paths, relationships, or belief systems in search of something that feels authentic to themselves. This wavering in life is consistent with Erikson’s argument that forming a commitment to an identity involves exploration. When adolescents struggle to weave all these areas of their lives into a coherent story, they may experience the disorientation Erikson described.

Resolving an identity crisis typically requires a period of exploration followed by commitment. Therefore, adolescents actually need to try out different roles, values, and goals in order to see what makes sense for them. Over time, forming a narrative identity leads to having a feeling of continuity and purpose. Supportive environments, like family, mentorship, therapy, or even close friendships, can leave a great impact. Identity is never permanently fixed, but working through an identity crisis builds a foundation for healthier relationships, meaningful work, and greater self-acceptance later in life.