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What Does the Next Decade of Identity Theory Hold? A Crowdsourced Answer on Future Directions of Research
Book chapter

What Does the Next Decade of Identity Theory Hold? A Crowdsourced Answer on Future Directions of Research

Philip S. Brenner, Michael M. Harrod, Kelly L. Markowski, Richard E. Adams, Laura Brashears, Caroline V. Brooks, Michael J. Carter, Jenny L. Davis, Benjamin C. Fields, Katharine M. Gary, …
Identity Development and Maintenance in Context, pp.399-415
Frontiers in Sociology and Social Research, v. 13, Springer Nature Switzerland
2026
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-12082-3_15

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Abstract

Identity theory is a vibrant and active area of research with roots reaching back over six decades. But what can we expect from the next decade of identity theory research? To answer this question, we crowdsourced the answer or asked the community of identity theory scholars for their ideas. Thoughts were solicited via multiple emails to those within our networks, and we specifically asked for thoughts, summarized in approximately 125 words or less, about the questions or topics that are in the greatest need of additional research in the next decade of scholarship on identity theory. We received submissions from 27 people and thematically analyzed contributions to identify the common threads. Seven themes emerged: (1) artificial intelligence (AI) and such technology’s effect on identities and identity processes; (2) additional exploration of multiple identities; (3) continued advances in methodology; (4) further development into the explication of the role of social structures on identities; (5) identity threats, trauma, and stigma; (6) embodiment; and (7) new links to other theories and approaches.

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