Table 1. Summary of the notions: image,... | Emerald Publishing

Table 1.

Summary of the notions: image, role and identity

	Image	Role	Identity
Characteristics	General impressions and representations a group or person presents to the public and can be inconsistent with a person’s own understanding of self (Leary and Kowalski, 1990) A representation of identity (Roberts, 2005) Part of employer branding: presentation of external expectations, e.g. through job advertisements (Spence, 1973) Linked to personal characteristics such as skills and abilities, experiences and values attributable to a person (Leary and Kowalski, 1990; Roberts, 2005) Should be aligned with one’s role demands (Goffman, 1959; Leary and Kowalski, 1990)	Actions and qualities expected of the person who at any time occupies the position (Sarbin and Allen, 1968) People’s generalized behavior patterns and characteristics (Biddle, 2013) Shared expectation among group members, roles being normative (Hollander, 1958) Expectations of behavior (Stryker and Burke, 2000) Associated with a group of people with the same social position (Biddle, 2013) Embedded in the larger social systems (Biddle, 2013) Representations of goals and activities of actors (Scott, 2008)	Internalized meanings and internal expectations within a role or a group (Stryker and Burke, 2000) A set of meanings claiming specific characteristics identifying one as a person (Burke and Stets, 2009). Looking both inward to a person’s self-definition (Barley, 1989) and outward (Watson, 2009) Responding to individuals’ and groups’ questions on “Who are you” (Ashforth et al., 2008; Vignoles et al., 2011) A social product developed in interaction with others where individuals’ self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-consistency and self-regulation act as motivators (Stryker and Burke, 2000)
Influences	Image influences and is influenced by impression construction (Leary and Kowalski, 1990; Roberts, 2005) Shape and influence identities by regulating, challenging and supporting them (Kärreman and Frandsen, 2020) Can threaten identity construction (Bertilsson and Rennstam, 2018; Frandsen, 2015)	Role influences identity (Stets and Burke, 2000) Role and its constraints influence image and its construction (Goffman, 1959; Leary and Kowalski, 1990)	Identity influences and is influenced by image, dependent on a person’s abilities and characteristics (Kärreman and Frandsen, 2020; Leary and Kowalski, 1990) Identity is developed through processes of self-discovery, personal interpretations and social interactions. (Vignoles et al., 2011).
Challenges	Image discrepancy – desired (ideal) image collides with perceived (current) image (Leary and Kowalski, 1990; Roberts, 2005)	Role overload – too high or too much is asked (Biddle, 2013) Role conflict – Incompatible role expectations exists for role owner (Biddle, 2013)	Identity deficit – inadequate definition of self, leading to a lack of decision-making capabilities (Baumeister, 1986) Identity conflict – values, beliefs, norms and demands linked to one’s identity collide with those of another identity (Ashforth and Mael, 1989; Baumeister, 1986)

	Image	Role	Identity
Characteristics	General impressions and representations a group or person presents to the public and can be inconsistent with a person’s own understanding of self (Leary and Kowalski, 1990)A representation of identity (Roberts, 2005)Part of employer branding: presentation of external expectations, e.g. through job advertisements (Spence, 1973)Linked to personal characteristics such as skills and abilities, experiences and values attributable to a person (Leary and Kowalski, 1990; Roberts, 2005)Should be aligned with one’s role demands (Goffman, 1959; Leary and Kowalski, 1990)	Actions and qualities expected of the person who at any time occupies the position (Sarbin and Allen, 1968)People’s generalized behavior patterns and characteristics (Biddle, 2013)Shared expectation among group members, roles being normative (Hollander, 1958)Expectations of behavior (Stryker and Burke, 2000)Associated with a group of people with the same social position (Biddle, 2013)Embedded in the larger social systems (Biddle, 2013)Representations of goals and activities of actors (Scott, 2008)	Internalized meanings and internal expectations within a role or a group (Stryker and Burke, 2000)A set of meanings claiming specific characteristics identifying one as a person (Burke and Stets, 2009).Looking both inward to a person’s self-definition (Barley, 1989) and outward (Watson, 2009)Responding to individuals’ and groups’ questions on “Who are you” (Ashforth et al., 2008; Vignoles et al., 2011)A social product developed in interaction with others where individuals’ self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-consistency and self-regulation act as motivators (Stryker and Burke, 2000)
Influences	Image influences and is influenced by impression construction (Leary and Kowalski, 1990; Roberts, 2005)Shape and influence identities by regulating, challenging and supporting them (Kärreman and Frandsen, 2020)Can threaten identity construction (Bertilsson and Rennstam, 2018; Frandsen, 2015)	Role influences identity (Stets and Burke, 2000)Role and its constraints influence image and its construction (Goffman, 1959; Leary and Kowalski, 1990)	Identity influences and is influenced by image, dependent on a person’s abilities and characteristics (Kärreman and Frandsen, 2020; Leary and Kowalski, 1990)Identity is developed through processes of self-discovery, personal interpretations and social interactions. (Vignoles et al., 2011).
Challenges	Image discrepancy – desired (ideal) image collides with perceived (current) image (Leary and Kowalski, 1990; Roberts, 2005)	Role overload – too high or too much is asked (Biddle, 2013)Role conflict – Incompatible role expectations exists for role owner (Biddle, 2013)	Identity deficit – inadequate definition of self, leading to a lack of decision-making capabilities (Baumeister, 1986)Identity conflict – values, beliefs, norms and demands linked to one’s identity collide with those of another identity (Ashforth and Mael, 1989; Baumeister, 1986)