ABSTRACT
E xtend to someone the seemingly straightforward invitation “So, tell me about yourself,” and prepare for a narrative barrage of traits, interests, roles, and relationships. To say the least, the self-concept is a complex collection of diverse representations, definitions, or motivationally- and emotionally-laden personality aspects. Of particular relevance to the current chapter are two general forms of self: the individual and collective. The individual self represents unique aspects that distinguish a person from others. The collective self represents aspects shared with ingroup members that assimilate a person with others. In other words, people conceptualize themselves both as unique or independent entities and as undifferentiated or interconnected group members. The coexistence of these different (and sometimes antagonistic) forms of self raises an interesting and important question regarding the essence of the self-concept: Does either self deserve the status of “primary?”
