Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

In sociological social psychology, authenticity refers to a felt sense of alignment with one's “true” self. Anthropologists, literary historians, and other cultural observers have noted that authenticity is predominantly a Western ideal whose importance escalated in concert with the rise of individualism from the late nineteenth century into the present. In Durkheimian terms, the need to understand one's place in the larger social order became particularly salient with the increased division of labor and rise of organic solidarity during this period. Among others, the philosopher Charles Taylor has argued that concern over authenticity has shifted from a byproduct of modernity to become a goal in and of itself. Most contemporary allusions to authenticity refer to its converse, inauthenticity. Newspaper columnists may comment on the inauthenticity of politicians, music fans lament their favorite stars as having “sold out,” and workers begrudge corporate executives as “fake.” Yet despite the popularity of authenticity in public discourse, sociologists have only recently begun to consider its theoretical significance. This inattention may be due to the term's elusive character. As Trilling (1972) observed, authenticity is often confused with sincerity. Whereas sincerity concerns one's congruent relation with others, authenticity refers to one's congruent relationship with oneself. ... log in or subscribe to read full text