Identity Capital
Investments in who you are becoming - skills, experiences, and credentials that build identity.
Also known as: Personal capital, Self-investment, Identity development
Category: Concepts
Tags: psychology, identities, careers, development, investment
Explanation
Identity capital is the collection of personal resources - skills, credentials, experiences, relationships, and characteristics - that define who we are and what we can offer the world. Coined by sociologist James Côté, the concept includes: educational achievements, professional skills, significant experiences, personal attributes, and network connections. Identity capital: accumulates through investment (effort, time, choices), enables future opportunities, and shapes who you become. Building identity capital involves: pursuing meaningful work, developing marketable skills, accumulating diverse experiences, and building valuable relationships. It differs from human capital (narrowly economic) by including: personal development, identity formation, and meaning-making. Identity capital matters especially in: emerging adulthood, career transitions, and uncertain economies. Underinvestment in identity capital creates: drift, limited options, and identity confusion. For knowledge workers, identity capital suggests: intentionally building skills and experiences, treating twenties as investment period, and recognizing that what you do shapes who you become.
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