"The independent mind that recognizes no authority higher than its own and no value higher than its judgment of truth," will have the morally strongest self identity.And that indicates that such a mind will have the identity it defines as "independent"; and will be of intellectual integrity necessary to carry that off and maintain it.

Anything less than such independence, and the mind begins to have self-doubts. Self-doubts lead to low self-esteem, and often to neuroses.