Introduction: Structure, Development, and Identity Formation

Abstract

Identity formation can be conceptualized as an ongoing psychosocial process during which various characteristics of the self are internalized, labeled, valued, and organized. When coordinated with self-awareness, these cognitive (self) schemas constitute the various identities one has and displays to others during social interaction. If identity formation is conceived in this way, the concept of structure can refer to the organization of schema contents (i.e., their integration and differentiation) as well as to the cognitive operational processes employed by the ego to form and sometimes change these schemas in response to the reactions of others.