Personal Identity and the Acts of Identification - Essay Example

Personal identity and the acts of identification Personal identity and the acts of identification Introduction Personal identity is founded on social interactions that place individuals in particular groups through shared values, beliefs, or practices. The prerequisite to belong to a particular social group is a basic aspect of human beings. The ways in which individuals attempt to satisfy this need change with time. As individuals join or leave different social groups, they repulsion themselves in relation to others, and in the process they develop new connections and discard others through social interaction and integration. In life, people consider themselves to be individuals rather than members of certain groups. However, it is their membership of particular groups that is most important in constructing their sense of identity. Thus, personal identity depends on the acts of identification, which individuals use to categorize themselves. Social class identity Individuals identify themselves according to the social class they belong. In every society, there is a hierarchy in which different members belong; the rich and the poor, the leaders and the followers, or the strong and the weak. In early societies, the notion of social class was meant to categorize people according to the jobs they held. Such classification corresponded to the particular level of economic means, social prestige, and access to political power that individuals could afford. However, in the modern societies, the notion of social class has changed. For example, in the Western societies, social class corresponds more closely to an individual’s social achievements such as education, occupation and income (Marsh et.al, 2007, 26). Place Identity Individuals identify themselves according to the place (physical space) that they belong. Physical space is the fundamental sense of identity alongside social interactions. Place identity is in three categories: national, small scale, and outsider identities. For national identity, people consider themselves members of a particular nation. Here, identity is tied to the practicalities of existing in a particular physical space. Such practicalities include the physical limits within which individuals can travel and the political boundaries of neighboring communities. One of the critical indicators of identity in this context is political beliefs. Such indicator is prevalent in countries where a strong sense of nationalism underpins the political ideology of the state. In such countries, national identity is important particularly when one is in a different country. Under ordinary circumstances, being a citizen of any nation is nothing special. However, a special form of importance emerges when one is in an oversea context. In such a situation, the individual acquires a unique identity based on the country of origin. National identity also comes out clearly when there is an international crisis or sporting event. For example, for the British, national identity comes into daily use often when there are sporting events such as the world cup (Marsh et al., 2007, 20). For small scale identity, people consider themselves members of the places they live or where they were born. Nowadays, people are far more likely to move from one place to another than in the past. The patterns of internal migration may vary with time depending on economic conditions and industrial structure (Marsh et al., 2007, 21). When people move to different places, they acquire a new sense of identity as members of particular places. They use such notions of identities to distinguish and identify themselves as residents of certain areas. Identities based on place of birth are more common in rural than in urban areas. In rural areas, individuals tend to know each other well and also spend most of their time together. The place of birth identity is associated with the ethics that people learnt in the places they were brought up. Such ethics binds individuals to their places of birth. For outsider identity, individuals identify themselves as either the locals or outsiders. Such identities arise from geographic mobility of people due to economic reasons. Regional government policies may encourage the movement of people to different areas in search of work. However, not all people will relocate from their native areas; some of them will remain. As the immigrants and locals live together, they fail to integrate properly into one social group. The locals would tend to treat the immigrants as outsiders. Thus, there will be at least two distinct identities of people living in the same area. Individuals use their places of birth quite often to distinguish themselves from others, and also to align themselves with imaginary notions of what it entails if one is from a particular place. Racial or ethnic identity Individuals identify themselves according to their ethnic or racial backgrounds. Race and identity are some of the strongest markers of identity. Ethnic identities together with cultural attributes associated with them are rarely considered fixed entities. People often choose to identify themselves with one or more racial or ethnic groups. An individual’s ethnic identity depends on specific circumstances. Such dynamics of ethnic identity enable individuals to respond to societal or personal changes over time. The dynamics also help in creating the ability to build a sense of identity across a number of particular societies, communities or other social groups. For example, in Britain, many people see themselves as integral segments of communities whose borders extend beyond those of British Isles. Thus, with such societal changes, it may be helpful to think of identity as a less fixed entity and more of multilayered and dynamic (Marsh et al., 2007, 23). Religious identity People identify themselves according to the faith that they adhere to. For example, in the current world, some people view themselves as members of major religions such as Christianity, Islam, Hindu, Buddhism, and Judaism while others classify themselves as non-religious. Various identities also exist within one major religion. For instance, in Christianity, there are the Roman Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants. These are some of the smaller religious groupings that people base their identities. In recent decades, the church has lost significant influence over the people. Most people have deviated from the norms of the church but still consider themselves as Christians. Thus, among the Catholics, there are at least two distinct groups of followers; those who adhere strictly to the church norms and the ones who have deviated from the norms. Therefore, two different notions of identities among the Catholics exist. Western Europe is one notable region that has experienced a rapid decline in church membership. In this region, there are two notions of Christian identity that people classify themselves. First, there is the strong faith-based group of participants of the church. Second, there is a group who ‘believe without belonging’ to any church (Marsh et al., 2007, 31). Political identity People identify themselves according to the political factions they are affiliated to in their countries. According to Marsh et al. (2007, 28), political affiliations are some of the most important identity issues in the current world. However, there is a steady decline in the number of individuals who are actively participating in politics particularly in Britain. In the 1960s, 82% of the people were actively participating in politics, but the proportion dropped to 51% as at 2005. Nevertheless, 51% is still a significantly meaningful proportion that people can base their identities. Online identity People identify themselves as members of particular internet sites such as the social networks. Nowadays, there is a growing sense of belonging through interactive media. Currently, the presence of technologically-enabled communities and groups extends to a wide range of online activities such as online dating sites, virtual social groups, newsgroups, chat rooms, podcasts, and RSS feeds. There are social networks such as Facebook, MySpace, aSmallWorld, and Friendster. In addition, there are virtual worlds such as Warcraft and Second Life. Such platforms have enabled individuals to create identities that may represent or diverge from their true identities. For most people, such new means of communication and interaction represent new ways of engaging with other members of the larger global society (Marsh et al., 2007, 24). The young generations, who have been raised with the new media, spend most of their time in social sites particularly at night instead of sleeping (Marsh et al., 2007, 24). Thus, there is a risk of the emergence of a generation that bases its identity almost entirely in a fantasy world. Brand identity People identify themselves according to brands of consumer products or services they consume. Such products or services represent the image that a particular brand carries in the minds of the present owners and prospective consumers. Thus, people form their identities basing on the brands and services that they consume. The ranking of brands and services reflects the desire to be seen as rising above certain low considerations. Many people have strong feelings about specific products they buy and services to which they subscribe (Marsh et al., 2007, 33). Professional identity People identify themselves according to their professions. It is their professions that determine who they are, their levels of economic means, social prestige, and political participation. Significant variations exist on how individuals relate to their professions across generations. In Britain, individuals aged 18 – 24 are twice as easy to leave their professions as older adults. It is a reflection of the shifts in the ways the particular generation perceives work, employment and careers. Individuals aged 55 and above find it equally easy to leave their jobs. However, their case is due to the fact that they will soon be retiring (Marsh et al., 2007, 40). Conclusion Personal identity depends on the acts of identification that individuals use to categorize themselves. In most cases, people base their identities on their nationalities, social class, place, race, religion, political affiliation, online social groups, profession, and brand loyalty. Social class identity corresponds to an individual’s social achievements such as education, occupation and income. Religious identity is based on the adherence to a particular faith. Brand identity arises from the image that a particular brand carries in the minds of its users. Place identity is based on the physical place that individuals consider themselves to belong. Reference List Marsh, Peter, Simon Bradley, Carole Love, Patrick Alexander, and Roger Norham. “Belonging.” SIRC. http://www.sirc.org/publik/Belonging.pdf (accessed July 30, 2014). Read More