Social Identity Complexity

TLDR

Social identity complexity describes how individuals perceive overlap among their multiple group memberships, ranging from simplified structures when groups converge to more inclusive, complex structures when memberships are distinct. The article aims to introduce and define social identity complexity and explore its antecedents and consequences. They define social identity complexity as a subjective representation of interrelationships among multiple group identities and discuss its possible antecedents and consequences. Initial studies show that social identity complexity is influenced by stress, linked to personal value priorities, and associated with greater tolerance of outgroup members.

Abstract

In this article, we introduce the concept of social identity complexity—a new theoretical construct that refers to an individual's subjective representation of the interrelationships among his or her multiple group identities. Social identity complexity reflects the degree of overlap perceived to exist between groups of which a person is simultaneously a member When the overlap of multiple ingroups is perceived to be high, the individual maintains a relatively simplified identity structure whereby memberships in different groups converge to form a single ingroup identification. When a person acknowledges, and accepts, that memberships in multiple ingroups are not fully convergent or overlapping, the associated identity structure is both more inclusive and more complex. In this article, we define the concept of social identity complexity and discuss its possible antecedents and consequences. Results from initial studies support the prediction that social identity complexity is affected by stress and is related to personal value priorities and to tolerance of outgroup members.