Understanding our groups, understanding ourselves: The importance of collective identity clarity and collective coherence to the self

The multiple group identities we all maintain (gender, cultural, religious, or professional) are critical to both self-knowledge and self-understanding. However, consideration of self-concept clarity at the collective level is in its infancy. The current chapter introduces two constructs that are integral to collective self-concept clarity. First, "collective identity clarity" refers to one's understanding of the norms and values of each of the individual groups to which they belong. Second, "collective coherence" refers to the process of integrating all of one's distinct group identities in a coherent structure. We review research relevant to each of these two components, highlight evidence linking collective self-concept clarity to psychological well-being, and outline avenues for future study.