Human identity is not an entity that exists outside the society. The manner of comprehending who they are is immensely influenced by social environment, interaction and experience with others. Early in life, individuals start developing a self image depending on how they are handled, addressed, motivated, reproved or appreciated. However, identity is not entirely an inner sense, but is a social construct which builds up through frequent exposure to social conditions.

The roles in society are central to the formation of identity. Each person holds various titles in life as a child, student, sibling, friend, employee, partner, or parent. Every role has behavioral, responsibility and emotional expression expectation. With time, these expectations become internalized by the individual and they start relating them to themselves. When a role is accepted and valued by other people, it makes self-confidence and stability stronger. People can become confused or emotionally troubled when a position is criticized, diminished or removed.

Human beings tend to establish themselves based on the responses they get. Whenever people are constantly applauded, encouraged or even believed in, they tend to perceive themselves positively. Recurrent criticism, neglect and invalidation on the other hand may result in self-doubt and negative self-perception. Such outer responses develop overtime into inner thoughts that guide the way individuals perceive their competencies, value, and their position in the world.

The social comparison is another important identity development factor. People have consistently drawn comparisons with others in an attempt to determine their success, competence, attractiveness and social worthiness. Although comparison may encourage improvement and learning, too much comparison is likely to lead to dissatisfaction and insecurity. The process is exacerbated in contemporary society by social media, which presents people with a curated and idealistic version of the lives of other people. This continued exposure may cause distortion of reality, which may make one feel incompetent or lagging behind even when they are performing well according to objective standards.

The influence of the cultural setting in identity formation is also quite strong. Various cultures also place different values like independence, community, achievement, obedience or harmony. These are values that determine the ways people can determine success, belonging, and self-worth. The identity in the collectivist cultures is usually strongly associated with the family, tradition, and the membership of the group. In individualistic societies, identity can be directed towards individual objectives, expression and autonomy. These cultural constructs determine the way people interpret and engage in their own experiences and decisions as well as their behavior.

Identity is not definite and stable. It changes as people pass through the various life stages and expose themselves to new social environments. Identity can be remade by changes like entering adulthood, beginning a career, developing romantic ties or loss. In the process of such transitions, people might doubt their values, priorities, and purpose. Although such periods may be unpleasant, it also gives time to grow and self-explore.

The manner in which people perceive social feedback is a key point of development of identity. People in life can be facing the same situation but they may have different interpretations depending on their mood, previous experiences, and what they believe in. Self-awareness assists people in understanding which points of their personality are influenced by the outer world and which are their true values. This consciousness enables individuals to define themselves in a conscious way than passively acquiescing to labels imposed on them.

It is important to know the social aspect of identity to be empathic and agree with yourself. It talks about why individuals might not be able to cope with self-esteem, confidence, or belonging without putting these struggles into the context of a personal failure. Understanding that identity is constructed through the social process is what aids people to be gentler toward themselves when there are aspects of uncertainty and transformation.

A good sense of identity is a balance between social and personal integrity. It enables one to interact with social groups without being subjected to independent thoughts and self-respect. Knowing the forces that define identity, people know how to select their role, beliefs, and values truly matching themselves. This is a purposeful self-identity that brings about increased emotional stability, genuineness, and satisfaction in life, both personal and social.