selfhood

Etymology

From self + -hood.

noun

1. (philosophy, psychology) State of having a distinct identity, or being an individual distinct from others; individuality.
2. The fully developed self; one's personality, character.
   Indeed, while geography is neither a key dimension of identity nor its determinant, it is one of the most important categories through which nationhood can be explored and articulated. It both grounds a sense of national selfhood and gives it a framework through which a continuous shaping of identity can "take place." 2002, Amila Buturović, Stone speaker: medieval tombs, landscape, and Bosnian identity in the poetry of Mak Dizdar
3. The quality of being self-centered or egocentric; selfishness.