self-identities

Meaning: Self-identities are the answers a person gives to "who am I?" in terms of roles, traits, and group memberships, such as student, daughter, athlete, woman, or member of a religion. Together they make up the self-concept, the full set of beliefs a person holds about themselves. Some identities are personal (based on individual traits and characteristics) and some are social (based on belonging to groups). A person holds many at once, and which one is most prominent can shift with context, for example one at work and another at a family gathering. Identities develop through social interaction, as in Cooley's looking-glass self (we imagine how others see us and judge us) and Mead's idea of taking the role of the other.

On the MCAT: A passage describes someone whose sense of self changes after a new role, a group affiliation, or feedback from others. You are asked to name the concept (self-concept, social identity, self-esteem, or self-efficacy) or to predict how in-group membership, social comparison, or stigma affects self-perception. Identities based on gender, race, class, or occupation may be discussed together, including how they overlap.

Common confusion: Self-identity is not self-esteem or self-efficacy. Identity is the content of how you describe yourself (what you are), self-esteem is the evaluation of that self (how much you value it), and self-efficacy is belief in your ability to succeed at a task. Identities are also not fixed, and a person can hold several at once.