What is the Difference Between Personal Identity and Social Identity?

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The difference between personal identity and social identity lies in the source of these identities and the way they are perceived.

Personal Identity:

  • Refers to the unique ways that people define themselves as individuals.
  • Markers of personal identity are often chosen by the individual throughout their lives, such as team affiliation, musical tastes, and style.
  • Personal identity is the story you tell yourself about who you are.

Social Identity:

  • Refers to people's self-categorizations in relation to their group memberships.
  • Social identities are shared with similar group members and convey similarity.
  • These identities are often assigned or inherited, such as race, ethnicity, gender, sex, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, and abilities/disabilities.
  • Social identity is the story society (others) says about you.

In summary, personal identity is the unique sense of self that an individual defines for themselves, while social identity is the set of characteristics attributed to an individual by others based on their group memberships. Social identity is influenced by the people around us and the society we live in, whereas personal identity is a more internal and individualistic concept.

Comparative Table: Personal Identity vs Social Identity

Personal identity and social identity are two distinct aspects of an individual's sense of self. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the two:

Personal Identity Social Identity
Refers to the unique characteristics, values, and beliefs that define an individual Refers to the ways people define themselves in terms of group belonging, such as religious, political, or cultural affiliations
Focuses on the individual's self-perception and inner experiences Focuses on a person's social standing and the way others see them based on their group memberships
Examples include personality traits, interests, and physical attributes Examples include affiliations with political parties, religious groups, or national identities

In summary, personal identity is about the unique qualities and attributes that make up an individual, while social identity is about how people define themselves based on their group memberships and the ways others perceive them within those groups.