Personal identity in Belgium and The Netherlands.

This chapter provides an overview of research on personal identity formation in the Low Countries (Belgium and The Netherlands). First we describe the broader societal context and specificities of Belgium and The Netherlands, then we move to a historical overview of the identity models that have been developed in these countries. Next, we discuss longitudinal findings on personal identity formation and the factors that are associated with individual differences in identity processes. Because both countries are ethnically diverse and Belgium is divided into Dutch-speaking and French-speaking regions, we also discuss the importance of social identity processes.