Symbolic interactionism
A useful lens for examining how this topic shapes meaning, action, and public life.
Self, groups & recognition
Identity
Identity develops through interaction, recognition, storytelling, and participation in social groups.
Communication overview
Why identity matters.
People learn to understand themselves through communication with others. Symbolic interactionism emphasizes that the self is not created in isolation; it develops as people interpret shared symbols, anticipate others’ responses, and take the role of the other (Mead, 1934).
Identity is also performed in social situations. People manage impressions, adapt to audiences, and use settings, language, appearance, and behavior to present versions of themselves. These performances are not necessarily false; they reveal how identity is relational and shaped by context (Goffman, 1959).
Communication scholarship
Four lenses for deeper analysis.
These concepts offer starting points for studying the topic without reducing it to a single explanation.
Performance
A useful lens for examining how this topic shapes meaning, action, and public life.
Social identity
A useful lens for examining how this topic shapes meaning, action, and public life.
Recognition
A useful lens for examining how this topic shapes meaning, action, and public life.
Questions worth exploring
Connect analysis to conflict and common ground.
- Which relationships and communities shape this identity?
- How does the person or group want to be recognized?
- What happens when others impose an unwanted identity?
- How do online settings change identity performance?
- What forms of recognition could reduce identity-based conflict?
Look beyond the surface. Ask how meaning, identity, power, and relationship are being constructed.
Selected references
Scholarship supporting this overview.
- Goffman, E. (1959). The presentation of self in everyday life. Doubleday.
- Mead, G. H. (1934). Mind, self, and society. University of Chicago Press.
More information coming soon
This topic hub will continue to grow.
Future additions may include original research, longer essays, visual analyses, teaching resources, case studies, and links to related commentary on Symbol Wizards and visual storytelling on Humanity’s Common Ground.