Identity, Formation, Agency, and Culture

James E. Cote, Charles G. Levine

"Côté and Levine have compiled state-of-the-art psychological and sociological theory and research into a concise synthesis. Comprehensive yet accessible, this volume utilizes a vast, interdisciplinary literature in a reader-friendly style...the authors take readers through the most important theories and studies of self and identity, focusing on pragmatic issues of identity formation--those things that matter most in people's lives."—Family Therapy"Enlightening and well-organized, deep, yet comprehensible, readers will find reading this book a pleasant and worthwhile journey."—Journal of Social and Personal Relationships"I think it makes fascinating and intriguing contributions to understanding how to tackle issues relating to self and identity at both the theoretical and applied level."—Kathleen D. Vohs, Ph.D.Case Western Reserve University"This presentation of Erikson's theory and its overlap with symbolic interactionism should be mandatory reading for all students of identity theory and research-psychologists and sociologists alike...the theoretical integration it offers moves the study of identity beyond the place where it stands now."—Gwendolyn T. Sorell, Ph.D.Texas Tech University"It is refreshing to see a piece of work that goes beyond the usual range of perspectives that are offered in the literature ...This book...fills a niche that is empty!...I have been looking for such a book for myself and my students for four or five years."—Marilyn J. MontgomeryFlorida International University

• Contents: Preface. Part I: A Critical Analysis of Approaches to Self and Identity. Identity Theory in Perspective. Psychological Approaches to the Concepts of Self and Identity. The Identity Concept in Sociology. Integrating Sociological and Psychological Perspectives on Identity: Toward a Social Psychology of Identity. Issues in Definition and Critique. Part II: A Return to a Formal Theory of Ego Identity Formation. Erikson Revisited: The Basis of a Formal Theory of Identity Formation. Identity, Agency, and Social Structure. Part III: Theoretical and Empirical Elaborations for a Social Psychology of Identity in Late Modernity. Identity Capital. Assessing the Adequacy of Identity Stage Resolution in Late Modernity. Identity and Late Modern Society: Ongoing Concerns and Future Research.