The Identity Disclosure Matrix: A Conceptual Framework for Why and How We Share Our Identities

ABSTRACT

Psychological inquiry into identity has focused predominantly on its construction, contents, or consequences for individuals. However, often overlooked in identity research agendas are the motivations that drive people to disclose their identities to others. Contemporary research suggests that identity has become a psychosocial currency individuals can exchange to navigate social interactions toward desired aims. Here, we introduce the Identity Disclosure Matrix (IDM) as a conceptual framework for understanding why and how identities are disclosed. We contend that efforts to intervene on identities would be more efficacious by considering the reasons and ways people disclose them. We then leverage the IDM to suggest that emotion regulation and social connection are two basic and interactive needs that motivate disclosing who one is to others. Enacted at either high or low levels, motivations to satisfy these two needs result in four unique types of identity disclosures that enable individuals to navigate the social world.

KEYWORDS:

• identity capital
• social connection
• emotion regulation
• self disclosure
• identity disclosure

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that any data supporting the findings of the theoretical paper are available within the article.