Identities and Social Structure: The 2003 Cooley-Mead Award Address

The present paper examines existing links between identities and the social structure in the context of identity control theory. I point out that, whether social structure is conceived as positions (roles and group memberships) to which identities are tied, or as the human organization of resource f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social psychology quarterly 2004-03, Vol.67 (1), p.5-15
Main Author: Burke, Peter J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Control theory
Cooley-Mead Award: 2003
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gender identity
Group identity
Group Membership
Hypotheses
Identification (Psychology)
Identity
Identity theory
Natural resources
Osgood, Charles
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Resistance (Psychology)
Role
Self Concept
Social Identity
Social interaction
Social interactions. Communication. Group processes
Social Networks
Social psychology
Social Structure
Social structures
Social Theories
Theme
Verification
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Summary:The present paper examines existing links between identities and the social structure in the context of identity control theory. I point out that, whether social structure is conceived as positions (roles and group memberships) to which identities are tied, or as the human organization of resource flows and transfers that are controlled by the identity verification process, identities and social structure are two sides of the same coin. Building on this theme, I develop hypotheses that explore some of the implications of this identity-social structure link. Some hypotheses suggest contexts in which identity change is likely; others explore the various consequences of identity verification, which depend on the different ways in which identities are tied to the social structure.
ISSN:0190-2725
1939-8999
DOI:10.1177/019027250406700103