Work Priority and Professional Development - Assignment Example

Name Tutor Course Date Assignment 1 Self identity according to Aronson, Wilson & Akert, (105) can be defined as the global understanding that a person has regarding themselves comprising of often permanent self assessments and perceptions about themselves such as knowledge of their abilities and skills, personality attributes, their hobbies and occupations, and their physical attributes (Aronson, Wilson & Akert 105-106). In a more in-depth definition, psychoanalysts such as Cross & Madson define self-identity as a collection of different beliefs that someone has about themselves (Cross & Madson 30). In this regard, they add that these collections includes elements such as academic performance, sexuality, gender roles and racial identity and in the process, the question that is sought to be answered when talking about self identity is, “Who am I?” (Cross & Madson 33-34). In addition to this, one’s self identity comprises of their self-schemas, their present, past as well as future selves (Ayduk, Gyurak & Luerssen 1467). Having said this, it is important to distinguish self-identity from self-awareness where the latter refers to the level one is able to define knowledge of him/herself as applied to their attitudes and dispositions (Ayduk, Gyurak & Luerssen 1471). Self-identity also differs from self-esteem where the former is descriptive and cognitive about a person’s self (indicated in comments like, “I am a fast learner”) whereas the latter is opinionated and evaluative (indicated in such comments like, “I feel great about being a fast learner”) (Ayduk, Gyurak & Luerssen 1470). These are the definitions against which this paper discusses my identity as a person following different approaches as presented hereinafter. I define and discuss my personality in this paper following various definitive approaches as recommended by Cross & Madson (33). I will describe myself based on what I am not, what I am, and where I am from. In so doing, I will detail things in my locality and around me that define my identity as a person (Aronson, Wilson & Akert 45). This definition will also encompass historical accounts that have been definitive to my identity and how they have shaped my identity as a person. i am an Asian-American student with my ancestral lineage coming from Asia in Peru. In this regard I am not an American neither can my identity be considered American just by the virtue of staying and studying in America. I do not hold an American passport which effectively means that my identity is not of American descent. I a 27 year old male student currently pursing my education in social sciences with the hope of graduating as a social science professional of global repute; I am dark skinned weighing 120 pounds and 4 feet and 8 inches tall. Being born in Peru, my childhood was characterized with a calm and remote village in Peru with a very humble background. My childhood was troublesome with my parents having a hard time to take care of my other six siblings as well as myself to provide for us. It was a difficult childhood with my parents having very limited resources from which they we were all looking to obtain our daily bread and a means to earn a formal education. I am the third born in my family being the only boy amongst my six sisters. Being the only boy in the family and sandwiched between sisters, I grew up rarely performing my domestic chores as my sisters would do everything for me. Being the only boy, I was also considered the unique one in the family and therefore often received preferential treatment and favours from my parents and family members for just being a boy. I started my education in my local town where I was of average academic capabilities competing favourably with my classmates from early on in school. Throughout my educational life I have maintained an average academic competency always coming in the first half of all the classes I have been in whenever ranked. Having come from a humble background, I moved to the United States when I was barely in my teens when my parents moved to come and stay in the States. The move was very turbulent for me pushing me in a very liberal society where children were very verbal in their expression to their parents and elders as opposed to the restrained childhood I had been brought up in (Aronson, Wilson & Akert 89). In this regard, it took me quite some time to adjust and become tuned to this new way of life. My speech is characterized with a South Asian accent which in most cases gives my identity away as soon as I start speaking. My parents have taken great strides to train me to improve my speech but it has not been very successful since I have not successfully shaded the stubborn accent. Among my friends in school and while I am at home, I am at times considered the ‘funny’ in the group with my accent but this does not affect me as I find it exciting and unique being able to have an accident that everyone can pick out whenever I speak and not just look like everyone else (Aronson, Wilson & Akert 90). Assignment 2 I can also define myself using my religious background. Given that Asians are generally very religious people, I do not consider myself to be very religious since throughout my upbringing my family was not very keen on religious beliefs. As I have come of age however, I have come to appreciate the existence of a deity who is the holder of all intelligence although I am not fundamentally keen on ascribing myself to any one form of religious belief. Based on the feedback I get from other people, I am considered to be a restrained and calculative person. My friends find me very cautious and reserved. In more than one occasion, I have been described as being an introvert because of my behavior of keeping to myself and minding my own business. On a regular, I would rarely interfere in other people’s businesses unless it directly affected or involved me in a personal way. Inasmuch as other find this as being restrained personality others have described me as being a coward and fearful of confrontations and fights or arguments. I find all these definitions and perceptions having a level of truth in describing who I am, in describing my identity. I am a deeply moral person, very careful and concerned of the moral values I ascribe to. I consider myself as being old school believing in the sovereignty and sanctity of the family unit, respect for marriage, and demand for respect for parents and elders by the younger. I believe that the success of the world we live in today would greatly improve if people respected universal moral standards regarding marriage, family, and sexual restraint. I believe in abstinence before marriage and faithfulness to one partner after marriage. I believe in traditional wedding where one publicly declares commitment and love for their spouses before a public gathering as witnesses. I am also a very political person preferring the communal restrained system of governance to the explosive and confrontational system. I hold conservative political views being cautious in accepting liberal thoughts such as abortion, polygamy and gay and lesbianism. I believe in the sovereignty of every state and in democracy where the people are the legal and constitutional owners of their governments. I believe in the rule of law and constitutionalism where everyone has a right and freedom to life, expression, communication, movement, and association. I do not support any form of discrimination based on ethnic, religious, socio-economic, racial, or educational original or success of a person. We are all equal before God and it is only God who holds the supreme authority and power to judge or condemn us. This notwithstanding, I believe that with these rights and freedoms, there comes responsibility and therefore people have to excise their powers, rights and freedoms in a manner that is respectful and accommodative of others’ interests, preferences, and privileges as provided for in their constitutions. I am also a very sporty person. I love athletics and casual sports which I participate in for recreational purposes. I do not have the physique of an athlete to compete in professional athletics and sports but I love playing soccer and running for recreation and to relax. Throughout my educational life, I have always belonged to at least one sports club in all the institutions I have been in to keep fit. I also enjoy following sports news and events around the world. For instance, I almost fanatical in my support and admiration of English soccer (English Premier League) where I make sure I follow most of the matches (if not all) that are played in that league on TV. Because of this trait, I have most of my friends and people around me interested in sports events and therefore most of my weekends I spend with my friends either watching or playing soccer. In additional to athletics and sports, my other hobbies include playing board and mind games. My favorite in this category is chess which I have been playing since I was five years old! I also like answering puzzles and playing Sudoku. In summary therefore, I am a very moderate person who does not like engaging in things that do not concern me. I have a very robust social network but my engagements with my relationships are not confrontation neither am I always the first to speak or to initiate discussions. I like being polite and slow at everything. My academic strengths are equally moderate and average always coming in the top half of the class in my performance. Works Cited Aronson, Ellen, Wilson, Thomas & Akert, Robert. Social Psychology. New York: Pearson Prentice Hall. 2012. Print. Ayduk, Ozlem, Gyurak, Anett, & Luerssen, Anna. "Rejection sensitivity moderates the impact of rejection on self-concept clarity". Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, vol. 35, no. 11, (2009): 1467–1478. Cross, Susan & Madson, Laura. "Models of the self: Self-construals and gender". Psychological Bulletin, vol. 122, no. 1, (2010): 5–37. Read More