Professor Peter J. Burke is one of the originators of Identity Theory. His research draws on Complexity Theory, Artificial Intelligence, and Computer Simulation to understand (1) how individuals, acting as agents with particular identities, come together in interaction to create larger aggregates, groups, organizations and societies, and (2) how these social structures constrain and limit the kinds of actions that individuals can take.
Professor Jan E. Stets focuses on using and extending identity theory in sociological social psychology with applications to social psychological, gender, and family processes. She has been using new developments in identity theory to study emotions and the moral self.
