The Identity Model

AbstractThe four basic components of identities are identified in this chapter: the identity standard, perceptual input, the comparator, and the error, and the connections among them are presented. In discussing these components, the authors trace the flow of meanings from the environment, where identity meanings are perceived, to the comparator where they are compared with other meanings (the identity standard), to the error (the identity discrepancy). The error is seen to go to the output function where behavior is altered, to the input function where perceptions and cognitions may be altered, and to emotions.