ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses a social-cognitive process model of identity is presented. A social-cognitive model of identity is presented. Identity is conceptualized as a self-theory, a conceptual structure composed of self-representational and self-regulatory constructs. Instead of focusing on characteristics of individuals with different identity statuses, the model highlights the role that social-cognitive strategies and processes play as individuals engage in or manage to avoid the process of constructing and revising a sense of identity. Three social-cognitive processing orientations or identity styles have been identified: informational; normative; and diffuse-avoidant. Identity style, the most general level, refers to the social-cognitive strategy that individuals characteristically use or would prefer to utilize. The role that personal epistemic assumptions play in self-theorizing and the possibility that epistemic assumptions contribute to individual differences in identity style are considered. A self-theory is a conceptual structure made up of assumptions, postulates, and constructs relevant to the self interacting in the world.
