Identity signals inform receivers of a signaler’s membership in a subset of individuals, and in doing so shape cooperation, conflict, and social learning. Understanding the use and consequences of identity signaling is therefore critical for a complete science of collective human behavior. As is true for all complex social systems, this understanding is aided by the use of formal mathematical and computational models. Here I review some formal models of identity signaling. I divide these models into two categories. First, I discuss models used to study how identity functions as a signal, with a focus on public-health-related behavior and disease transmission. Second, I discuss models used to understand how identity signals operate strategically in different social environments, with a focus on covert, or encrypted, communication.

身份信号通知接收者信号者在个人子集中的成员身份，并在此过程中形成合作、冲突和社会学习。因此，了解身份信号的使用和后果对于完整的集体人类行为科学至关重要。对于所有复杂的社会系统都是如此，这种理解是通过使用正式的数学和计算模型来帮助的。在这里，我回顾了一些身份信号的正式模型。我将这些模型分为两类。首先，我讨论了用于研究身份如何作为信号发挥作用的模型，重点是与公共卫生相关的行为和疾病传播。其次，我讨论了用于理解身份信号如何在不同社会环境中战略性运作的模型，重点是隐蔽或加密的通信。