ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the self, the self-concept, and identity and illustrates why these topics are so important to social psychologists seeking to understand people's social experiences. Sociological social psychologists are interested in the content of people's self-concepts, including their identities, and how they shape their perceptions, emotions, and behaviors. The chapter covers the nature of the self and its consequences for everyday life that are of interest to social psychologists trained in psychology, as well as in sociology. It discusses the link between self and behavior and also self-esteem, how it is measured, and how it varies across groups. The chapter discusses that the literature suggests that the self still reflects and shapes our social interactions in ways that are relatively stable, predictable, and perceived as meaningful. The real self is found in the socially based identities within our self-concept. Sometimes people synthesize self and role, giving rise to the role-person merger.
