Social Processes and Practices on Identity Development - Coursework Example

The Social Processes and Practices on Identity Development Introduction Identity development remains characterized by collective processes based on evaluations of social processes and practices shared across all groups. Researches on identity development concerning social processes and practices have largely focused on individuals’ social practices, for instance racism. The psychology of social processes and practices does affect the development of identity in different contexts. Thus, an understanding of social processes and practices contribute to perceptions especially amongst minority groups. Social processes and practices remain subject to social contexts and factors adjusted and sustained by people’s actions (Crandall et al. 2002, pp. 359-378). Social processes and practices consider disability to result from disabled persons as an oppressed group and restrictions. This paper critically evaluates and examines social processes and practices on the development of identity. Impact of social processes and practices on both individual and collective identity Impairment encompasses a functional limitation produced by deficiency. On the other hand, disability includes all exclusions due to social or physical barriers and it incorporates persons in other socially excluded groups such as ethnic minorities, poor persons, and women. Individual and collective identities remain determined by motivational, cognitive, and social processes and practices. The orientation of social dominance centers on the degree to which a group or person would wish and support a group’s hierarchy, along with the dominance of superior social groups over inferior groups. In addition, the impact of social processes and practices would be moderated by identity. Contextual practices or situational processes would not affect gender differences in orientation of social dominance (Guimond et al. 2003, pp. 697-712). The orientation of social dominance mediates the relationship between attitudes towards identity and social processes or practices in the framework of a subjective classification system set or self-selection. In addition to self-selection, the impact of the social processes and practices causes significant changes in beliefs and attitudes in several ways conditional on the situational context of the personality model. On the other hand, the outcomes of a social group model indicate that the acquisition of dominant identity remains significant to the socialization process. This change could also be attributed to cognitive psychology, as individuals would want to justify their identity in social activities. Hence, in establishing the identity of a disabled person, it would be essential to indicate that both the social processes and the practices would be present. Disabled persons acquire different levels of orientations to self-expression or identity development centered on stable and psychological tendencies, in addition to the conceptualization of identity as a social characteristic. Given the social model of groups, disabled persons in a dominant social position exhibit high levels of identity than their peers. In overall, changes in identity remain as a function of social processes and practices regardless of any psychological social tendencies of the individual or group. This explains the observed collective identities given the social dominance conditions of practices and processes as associated to controlled conditions (Guimond et al. 2003, pp. 712-721). Identity becomes formed in collective situations thereby functioning as standards for the person’s perception and resulting judgment while absent from the group. Manipulated social processes and practices impacts disabled persons’ attitudes thus other partners could affect remote acceptance. In addition, a person’s perception of identity stereotyping directly influences the person’s willingness to accept the stereotypes. Hence, the social appropriateness of processes and practices determines publicly expressed and suppressed identities. In evaluating social processes and practices about identity development, it could be established that persons express their own identity based on social acceptance. On the other hand, the universality of socialization in controlling the development of identity would be more tolerated in intimate relationships. For instance, rejection remains established on social history, safety concerns and threat values while discrimination in the standardized appropriateness of identity relating to housing, employment and dating. Additionally, social processes and practices dictate which jokes would amuse or be rude to belittling disabled persons (Bradfield 2004, pp. 35-42). Impact of representation of impairment on social exclusion and barriers to full participation Disabled persons have remained excluded and barred from full participation by aspects such as inadequate personal and public transport, unsuitable housing, flights of steps or stair cases, lack of updated equipment and aids and rigid work routines at work places. The terms ‘disabled persons’ and physically impaired persons’ also form part of factors of social exclusion. Social responses to various forms of physical and mental impairments appear different. In addition, there exist no feelings of commonality or team spirit among persons with various disabilities. Moreover, language or set of experiences, unifying culture, non-homogeneity of disabled persons and the prospect for disability team spirit remain absent in some social settings (Swain & French 2008, pp. 1-26). Enablement would result from changing socially oriented perceptions towards an inclusive and comprehensive environment. Misrecognition denies disabled persons the status for full participation in social interactions because of institutionalized patterns of evaluation and interpretation. Phenomenological factors involving the disabled person’s own perception about their individual bodies, interactions with the environment and others, and their experience of exclusion to full participation also contribute to social exclusion of persons with disabilities. Disabilities politics have fought for recognition while developing critiques on the impacts of misrecognition. The use of dualism on merging cultural and economic factors would eliminate social exclusion (Thompson & Yar 2011, pp. 111-120). In the United Kingdom, the media through article publications became more interested in using disabled persons as an attack to the Labor government rather than supporting them. Much of the media and press coverage remained deeply offensive and questionable concerning their claims on persons with disabilities and disability. The use of a judgmental language and failure to explore the impact of proposed cuts on the quality of life of disabled persons negatively influences social and full participation. Representation of impairment as undeserving of benefits coupled with a reluctance to criticize the government policies on social exclusion and barriers to full participation created a highly provocative situation (Briant et al. 2011, pp. 4-15). The expression of ‘disabled persons as not fraudsters and fraudsters as not disabled persons’ impacted on the feelings of persons with disabilities in relation to their own safety and security. This concern is attributed to the impacts of benefit changes on the acceptance of disabled persons, their ability to participate, and their quality of life. Legislations and rights processes failed to transform institutions and their practices. However, the idea of equality became approved as part of equality mainstream in the recent past. By contrast, these changes in attitude have not effectively eliminated practices relating to barriers to full participation and social exclusion. In addition, irrespective of fifteen years of anti-discriminatory legislation, persons with disabilities remain considerably underprivileged as compared to the non-disabled population (French & Swain 2012, pp. 1-30). The over-extended reporting by media and press could create the possibility for the exclusion of support processes and structures currently available to the disabled persons. Furthermore, the duplication of the government is standing on disability benefits and disability in general adds to the oppression experienced by persons with disabilities. Additionally, the lack of a monitoring system on the claims and statistics prone to biasness would make the government adopt a partisan approach dangerous to the participation and exclusion of disabled persons (Barnes & Mercer 2011, pp. 27-40). Human genetics and pre-natal diagnosis Issues surrounding the moral justifications for genetic and pre-natal diagnosis emerged during recent advancements in biomedical technology, the pursuit of bodily perfection, ageing populations, the rising costs of welfare and health provision, and medical ethics. The medical definition of disability considers disability impairments as originating from psychological losses or functional limitations as well as inherent in disabled persons. The aims of biomedical assessments explain initial developmental causes along with other present factors since their impacts remain cumulative and interactive. The elements of a biomedical assessment include history and physical examination. Historical assessment involves aspects relating to family, gestational, birth and childhood problems whereas physical evaluation focuses on phenotypic displays of symptoms or other physical features associated with or suggestive of disability (First & Tasman 2011, pp. 20-22). Prenatal diagnosis employs the examination of amniotic fluid in identifying metabolic and chromosomal disorders, a process known as amniocentesis. Alternatively, chorionic villus sampling remains employed in molecular genetics and chromosomal evaluations. Prenatal diagnosis should be made available in the event of identified risks for congenital or genetic symptoms and upon request. This would facilitate preparation for birth and provision of essential support. At around the twentieth week of gestation, fetal ultrasound could be performed to assess significant observable malformations. In addition, carrier screening should be made available for all high-risk populations for assessing recessive disorders like Tay-Sachs disease. Furthermore, careful counseling ought to be provided to aid prospective carrier parents in making decisions regarding the available alternatives (First & Tasman 2011, p. 23). Values associated with health and well-being There exist diverse values associated with health and well-being. The society’s view of health care stands as a public commodity that need to be regulated, made publicly accountable and reasonably accessible to all in ensuring essential social policy goals. On the other hand, policy makers and governments perceive health care as an expensive and potentially insufficient commodity. Other people believe that the transfer of long-term services from health care systems to social service organizations would minimize medication risks that disability advocates would consider objectionable. By contrast, health care utilization data reveals that disabled persons have potential risk for discrimination in organizations with capitated providers and market based health care systems. Moreover, disabled persons viewed health care systems as organizations that devalue them and authoritarian when they would be required to deal with an indefinitely sick person (Shakespeare 2008, pp. 15-23). Currently, disabled persons remain more entrusted politically and have less uncertainty on social service and health care systems. In addition, they view their organizations as more indispensable to their day-to-day well-being. Disability groups representing specific impairments have remained active on issues relating to health and well-being. However, the use of managed care plan for the disabled remains a controversial issue whose needs surpass those of persons without disabilities (First & Tasman 2011, pp. 17-20). Conclusion The participation of persons with disabilities more broadly in various civil societies’ activities and in the economy would eliminate negative impacts on social exclusion and barriers to full participation. For disabled persons to be capable of functioning as human beings demand the adequate access to ways of sustaining their biological existence. This would also call for the access to basic settings of human organization as well as knowledge of their opportunities and environments. Other measures include self-confidence to judge and think for themselves, freedom of movement and thought, psychological situations of autonomy, and the ability to deliberate about ends and means. Therefore, an understanding of social processes and practices contributes to perceptions amongst disabled persons. Interventions that would change the appraisal process, on top of those that would reduce exposure to stress and alter stress-inducing situations should to be adopted. Also, situational planning should integrate the social inclusion and full participation of disabled persons. A planned and systematic analysis of social processes and practices remains essential and relevant to identity development and expression of identity. Lastly, the relationship between the development of identity and the expression of identity remains positively correlates to social processes and practices. References Barnes, C & Mercer, G 2011, Exploring Disability, 2nd edn, Polity Press, Cambridge. Bradfield, R 2004, ‘What We Know and What We Believe: Lessons from Cognitive Psychology’, Development, vol. 47, no. 4, pp. 35-42. Briant, E, Watson, N & Philo, G 2011, ‘Bad News for Disabled People: How the Newspapers are Reporting Disability’, Inclusion London, pp. 4-15, Viewed 18 December 2012, https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment Crandall, CS, Eshleman, A & O’Brien, L 2002, ‘Social Norms and the Expression of and Suppression of Prejudice: The Struggle for Internalization’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 82, no. 3, pp. 359-378. First, MB & Tasman, A 2011, Clinical Guide to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Disorders, John Wiley & Sons, Oxford. French, S & Swain, J 2012, Working with Disabled People in Policy and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan, Hampshire. Guimond, S, Dambrun, M, Michinov, N & Duarte, S 2003, ‘Does Social Dominance Generate Prejudice? Integrating individual and Contextual Determinants of Intergroup Cognitions’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 84, no. 4, pp. 697-721. Shakespeare, T 2008, Disability Rights and Wrongs, Routledge, Cornwall. Swain, J & French, S 2008, Disability on Equal Terms, SAGE Publications, London. Thompson, S & Yar, M 2011, The Politics of Misrecognition, Ashgate Publishing Ltd, England. Read More