Among the many traditions of research on "identity." two somewhat different yet
strongly related strands of Identity Theory have developed. The first, reflected in the
work of Stryker and colleagues, focuses on the linkages of social structures and identities.
The second, reflected in the work of Burke and colleagues, focuses on the internal
process of self-verification. The present paper reviews each of these strands, then
discusses ways in which the two relate to and complement one another. Each provides a
context for the other: the relation of social structures and identities influencing the
process of self-verification, while the process of self-verification create and sustain social
structures. Examples of potentially useful applications of Identity Theory to other arenas
of social psychology, and a discussion of challenges Identity Theory must meet in the
future to provide a clear understanding of the relation between self and society, conclude
the paper.