Multiple Identities in Social Perception and Interaction: Challenges and Opportunities

What is it about?

Categorization plays a fundamental role in organizing daily interactions with the social world. Yet, social categorization is often complex. Category membership can be ambiguous (e.g., multiracial or transgender identities). Different identities (e.g., race and gender) can interact to determine the meaning of category membership. These complications influence social perceivers' impressions. They also shape social targets' own experiences of identity. This review examines recent research on the perception and experience of these complex identities. We argue that identity complexity presents challenges but also opportunitiesY. We consider how these opportunities might benefit both perceivers and targets.

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