The self-categories that an individual identifies with (is defined by) in becoming a unique person by being different from other (in-group) persons

Personal identity

The social categorization of an individual with respect to their peers (self and others). There are shared self-categories that are identified with by members of a group (us v them; races, genders, nationalities, friend groups,  etc.)

Social identity

Self categories are not fixed - individuals can toggle through self-categories based on their needs and relevance to a present situation.  Self-categories are flexible as to allow the individual to adapt to the social context.

Context dependance of self-categories

Four things can create a more stable self-categorization:
- 1) The stability of the social reality that contexts arise from
- 2) The knowledge structures of the perceiver that create the coherence and understanding of a situation
- 3) The social groups and cultures that expose the perceiver to different values, norms and motives
- 4) The communication methods and social influences that go into establishing social norms (and validate their existence)

Stability in self-categorization

The grouping (identifying) of ones' self with a class (of stimuli) that is separate/different from another class 

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

What is produced by cognitive mechanisms: the entire functional property. The self is the conduit for the process and products that give rise to cognition.

The self (self-categorization theory)

Turner, J. C., Oakes, P. J., Haslam, S. A., & McGarty, C. (1994). Self and collective: Cognition and social context. Personality and social psychology bulletin, 20(5), 454-463.

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