We like to think of our identities as singular and stable: I’m an early riser (and will always be), or I’m a foodie (and can’t imagine otherwise).

But if we take a step back, we see how we not only hold multiple identities, but how many of these identities change over the course of our lives.

Remember when you were a student? Or a time when you were single?

While there are some identities we can’t change, like our race or birthplace, there are many that we can. It’s the difference between fixating on “who I am now” and, instead, focusing on “who I want to be.” And that simple shift in mindset can make all the difference when it comes to living a happier, more meaningful life.

That’s what makes The Power of Us such an important book, and it’s why I wanted to talk to one of the book’s authors, NYU Professor, Jay Van Bavel. He and his co-author, Lehigh University Professor, Dominic Packer, share helpful ways to navigate the tremendous upsides and challenging downsides of our shared identities.

Episode Links

Dassler Brothers Feud

Social Identity Theory

Henri Tajfel

1951 Princeton-Dartmouth Football Game and Group Perception

Yael Granot

Leon Festinger

Charismatic Leadership and Corporate Cultism at Enron

Jay Van Bavel NYU Social Identity Lab

https://www.powerofus.online/

Psychological Safety and Learning Behavior in Work Teams by Amy Edmondson

Extraterrestrial by Avi Loeb

The Team

Learn more about host, Gayle Allen, and producer, Rob Mancabelli, here.

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CM 200: Jay Van Bavel on Our Changing Identities