Internal Identity Asymmetry and the Perception of Conflict

Abstract

As individuals, we have an enduring interest and concern with how we are perceived and evaluated by others. However, there is often misalignment – what we define as internal identity asymmetry – between our self-perceptions and our perceptions of how others view us. These identity processes may significantly influence social behaviour and relationships; yet remain relatively unexplored in the group conflict literature. In this paper, we thus bring together identity and conflict literature to propose that internal identity asymmetry – and whether it is evaluated as a threat or a challenge – may heighten an individual’s experience of group task or relationship conflict.