ABSTRACT
This chapter examines empirical research into how identity is enacted by visitors in museums, rather than how museums present identities. It addresses the proliferation of theory about identity and limited operationalisation and empirical evidence of the role of identity in learning. The chapter discusses particular disciplinary views on personal, social, cultural and cross-cultural dimensions of identity. It examines a rather large number of seemingly disparate theories coming from different theoretical perspectives. The chapter focuses on attempts to bridge psychological, sociological and anthropological approaches to identity, where the concept of identity is approached from different perspectives. Self and identity are central to understanding how the human mind works in addition to the relationship between individuals (personal identity), on the one hand, and society and culture, on the other. The chapter concludes by discussing how these frameworks have been used in the museum context.
