Ring and Module Homomorphisms Coincide Only On The Identity

Theorem

Let R be a ring, and consider R as a module over R in the usual way.

Then φ:RR is both a ring and module homomorphism if and only if φ is the identity.

Proof

Suppose φ is a ring and module homomorphism. Then

φ(rr)=φ(r)φ(r)=rφ(r).

As such, with r=1 we have that φ(1)=1 because φ is a ring homomorphism and thus

φ(r)=r.

On the converse, if φ is the identity then it trivially satisfies all the requirements of both a ring and module homomorphism.