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The strength of weak identities: Social structural sources of self, situation and emotional experience

Publication ,  Conference
Smith-Lovin, L
Published in: Social Psychology Quarterly
January 1, 2007

Modern societies are highly differentiated, with relatively uncorrected socially salient dimensions and a preponderance of weak, unidimensional (as opposed to strong, multiplex) ties. What are the implications of a society with fewer strong ties and more weak ties for the self? What do these changes mean for our emotional experience in everyday life? I outline a structural view of self, situated identity, and emotion. It is an ecological theory in which interpersonal encounters are the link between the macro-level community structure and the micro-level experience of self-conception, identity performance, and emotion. In this ecology of encounters, multiple-identity enactments (especially of salient self-identities) are quite rare. But where they occur, they are important indicators of potential social change.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Social Psychology Quarterly

DOI

ISSN

0190-2725

Publication Date

January 1, 2007

Volume

70

Issue

2

Start / End Page

106 / 124

Related Subject Headings

  • Sociology
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 4410 Sociology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1608 Sociology
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Smith-Lovin, L. (2007). The strength of weak identities: Social structural sources of self, situation and emotional experience. In Social Psychology Quarterly (Vol. 70, pp. 106–124). https://doi.org/10.1177/019027250707000203
Smith-Lovin, L. “The strength of weak identities: Social structural sources of self, situation and emotional experience.” In Social Psychology Quarterly, 70:106–24, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1177/019027250707000203.
Smith-Lovin L. The strength of weak identities: Social structural sources of self, situation and emotional experience. In: Social Psychology Quarterly. 2007. p. 106–24.
Smith-Lovin, L. “The strength of weak identities: Social structural sources of self, situation and emotional experience.” Social Psychology Quarterly, vol. 70, no. 2, 2007, pp. 106–24. Scopus, doi:10.1177/019027250707000203.
Journal cover image

Published In

Social Psychology Quarterly

DOI

ISSN

0190-2725

Publication Date

January 1, 2007

Volume

70

Issue

2

Start / End Page

106 / 124

Related Subject Headings

  • Sociology
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 4410 Sociology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1608 Sociology