The Construction of Sexual Identity

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the construction of gay identity. First, sexual identity is defined and the emergence of gay identity is discussed. Two significant theories of identity—social identity theory and identity process theory—from social psychology are outlined in relation to gay identity. The Cass identity model, which describes the processes underlying sexual identity development among gay men, is discussed from a social psychological perspective. Significant empirical research into the construction gay identity is summarised and it is argued that both social and psychological levels of analysis are key to understanding the construction of gay identity.