Personality, Identity, and the Self

Chapter 7: Personality, Identity, and the Self

5 min read Updated Apr 19, 2026
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Who are you? That question splits into two MCAT-sized pieces. Personality is the relatively stable pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behavior that makes you you over time. Identity is your answer to “who am I?” - built through social comparison, reflection, and development. This chapter covers both.

Modern psychology doesn’t have one theory of personality; it has six. Each emphasizes something different, and the MCAT expects you to recognize all of them. Then we move to self-concept and the developmental frameworks that shape identity across the lifespan.

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