Responses to Conflicts Between Personal Identity and Role Identity: Insights into the Identity Management Strategies of Entrepreneurs

2026/07/27 by Sascha Hohen, Lars Schweizer
Business, Management and Accounting · Social Sciences · #Corporate Identity and Reputation #Management and Organizational Studies #Social Power and Status Dynamics

paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/s41471-026-00248-7

openalex publication_date 2026/07/27 · openalex created_date 2026/07/28 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

Abstract This study explores individuals’ identity management by utilizing an inductive approach that builds on grounded theory methodology and 51 interviews as primary data source. While previous identity management research focuses primarily on conflicts between social identities, this study addresses conflicts between individuals’ personal identities and role identities. This paper presents an identity management model that builds on key identity factors that are grounded in the sample data. Moreover, four novel identity management strategies (i.e., adjustment, creation, elimination, and enhancement) are introduced. These four identity management strategies enable individuals to solve identity conflicts between their personal identities and their role identities.

Citations

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Related

• Explaining Social Change and Identity Management Strategies
• Entrepreneurial Identity: A Review and Research Agenda
• Members' Identification with Multiple-Identity Organizations
• Dual Identities in Social Ventures: An Exploratory Study
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