Dutton, J. E., Roberts, L. M., &Bednar, J. (2010). Pathways for positive identity construction at work: Four types of positive identity and the building of social resources.

In this paper we organize research on work-related identities into a four-perspective typology that captures different ways identities can be “positive.” Each perspective on positive identity—virtue, evaluative, developmental, and structural—highlights a different source of positivity and opens new avenues for theorizing about identity construction. We use these four perspectives to develop propositions about how different forms of positive work-related identity construction can strengthen employees through building social resources.