How do social factors shape our sense of self? This chapter reviews the *social psychological* underpinnings of identity, emphasizing social cognitive and symbolic interactionist perspectives. It explores key themes in identity research, particularly those based on ethnicity, race, sexuality, gender, class, age, and (dis)ability, both individually and intersectionally. These factors include identities based on space, such as virtual. The author discusses struggles over identities, often organized by social inequalities, nationalisms, and social movements. Furthermore, they examine postmodernist conceptions of identities as fluid, multidimensional social constructions reflecting sociohistorical contexts. The author advocates for a politicized social psychology of identities that bridges everyday experiences with sociocultural realities. This research provides context on the *social sciences*.
As a review of the social psychological aspects of identity, this work is highly relevant to the Annual Review of Sociology. It provides a comprehensive overview of key concepts, research, and debates within the field, aligning with the journal's aim of presenting insightful analyses of major sociological topics. This also covers social sciences and sociology in general.