The Cambridge Handbook of Identity

While 'identity' is a key concept in psychology and the social sciences, researchers have used and understood this concept in diverse and often contradictory ways. The Cambridge Handbook of Identity presents the lively, multidisciplinary field of identity research as working around three central themes: (i) difference and sameness between people; (ii) people's agency in the world; and (iii) how identities can change or remain stable over time. The chapters in this collection explore approaches behind these themes, followed by a close look at their methodological implications, while examples from a number of applied domains demonstrate how identity research follows concrete analytical procedures. Featuring an international team of contributors who enrich psychological research with historical, cultural, and political perspectives, the handbook also explores contemporary issues of identity politics, diversity, intersectionality, and inclusion. It is an essential resource for all scholars and students working on identity theory and research.
- Integrates new developments in theorizing and investigating identity around issues such as identity politics, diversity, intersectionality, and inclusion
- Relates theoretical considerations to methodological implications and evidences both with concrete examples of research applications
- Surveys the diverging strands in identity theory and research, and at the same time centers them on three key themes: sameness vs. difference, agency, and constancy and change