The way in which others view us often shapes our identity Essay example

Identity is who we are, even though it can be hard sometimes to find out exactly what that means. That is why our identities can be so easily changed and shaped by different things. This is especially true during our adolescent years, when we are vying for acceptance from others. Sometimes we are the ones who shape who we are. This can happen when we choose to ignore outside influences who would normally affect us. Nevertheless, most of the time we are shaped by other people. Human beings have a never ending want to be socially accepted. We are all insecure in our own way, leaving us prey to the influence of others. We are able to choose how we act and what we do, but even so we end up being changed by everyone who surrounds us. Although we have the freedom to make our own conscious decisions, ultimately the people around us shape who we are by the way they treat us.

Growing up in a generation with high expectations of identity that are constantly altering whether it’s the latest trends, styles and even mind-set principles, can be over whelming. When asked to describe one-self, we often are stuck thinking of what particular word could fully describe who we are as a person. We have such a hard time of coming with just one word because there is no form of describing one’s self. How we see ourselves, we may not want to be that the next day. “Looks can be deceiving” or “the first impressions are the most important” is commonly instilled in our mindset which it is true to some extent. Our work

Outside influences have a strong capability to influence and alter our personal identity. Both directly and indirectly, the social contexts in which we live can change the way we think and feel, and by extension how we interact with other people and places. Immediate family, friendship groups and the physical environment are all factors which contribute to our ever changing perceptions of ourselves. Sometimes personal identity can be subtly reshaped over a gradual time frame, as our sense of who we are is modified without personal recognition that we are changing. At other times we may be able to notice our personal identity changing, through important life decisions.

02.07 Discussion Based Assessment Throughout this module, I explored the theme and concept of identity. To do this, I was introduced to the book Little Brother by Cory Doctorow, the original Cinderella, and I read the story of Linda Brent in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs, in which she told her readers how many terrible experiences she had to endure because of slavery. After reading these beautifully written pieces of literature, I can now form an idea of what identity means to me. So far, my understanding of identity is the experiences that make up your morality, and the decisions that you make that make you who you are. Your identity is your responsibility and your image.

Who I am? Personally, I believe that a person’s identity can take only one of two routes. One, a person’s identity can change within that person’s life. Who I am now, is not necessarily who I was when I was younger. Experience can and will likely modify our identities. Therefore, experience can solidify our personal identification or it can weaken our personal identification. And as such, individuals and their perspectives are always evolving, or at the very least, they should evolve over time. Although there are some identities that evolve throughout one’s lifetime; there are some identities that remain consistent. Two, some identities cannot and will not change. So identities are socially and/or politically forces upon you, some identities are genetically assigned to you, and some you choose to keep. No matter the reason or reasons, these identities have been and will be consist within your lifespan. But, how you deal with them is up to you as an individual.

We choose what we wear and how we act and what we do, which is our own identity. Identity can also be altered by finding an idol or discovering your own perspective on life and culture.. We are constantly being influenced and shaped by outside influences. It is important to understand this going on, because according to evidence, if you become aware, you can control your identity. In the article “Do you choose your identity or is it chosen for you?”

“Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation” (Oscar Wilde). People identity could be impacted by several things that surround them. Identity is more impacted on teens because they are trying to figure themselves out and want to fit in a group. If a teen’s identity does not please others it can make that individual take their life away because they sense that they are worthless.

What we as individuals refer to ourselves can be different then how others view us. Self identity is a topic that comes up a lot when first being introduced to someone new. Everyone has a different background.

The teenage years are especially crucial when finding an identity for oneself, therefore this stage of our lives is one that is thought to be quite confusing and can bring a lot of internal conflict (Erikson's Stages). We constantly question ourselves every day during this period of time where social norms, interactions with friends, along with many other social aspects may play huge roles in influencing who we view ourselves as a person.That is what the nature of society does, it causes us to be influenced by what we think others will think about us. As much as we all want to be an individual, we are afraid of what that originality will do to us. During this stage of our life we are afraid of the consequences that follow when trying to be different than those whom we surround ourselves with, at least it was for me. However from my personal experience with my move I have come to understand that despite the continuous external influences, we will eventually come to learn exactly who we define ourselves as and choose to surround ourselves with those who think similarly as us. Still, I believe our life cycle is constantly changing since society is always different and not always constant, therefore it is not surprising if who we identify ourselves as changes or expands over time

Identity without the opinions of others factored into your own opinion of yourself. This pivotal

Scientific research has it that, beliefs, traits and emotions can be factors inherited from parents through the DNA. The memory of an event experienced by a grandparent could be passed through generations. This means that there exist certain identity traits in the genes of an individual. Images of violence or shows that are less empowering could have a certain negative amount of influence in self-identity. A grown up also faces pressure from family and community beliefs, which make them put on a different piece of identity from their own.

Who am I? How does this differ from how others view me? Identity is something that is so personal to each of us that no two individuals are the same. That is not to say however that we do not share common elements of our identity with others “the notion of identity hinges on an apparently paradoxical combination of sameness and difference. The root of the word identity is the Latin idem (same) from which we also get ‘identical’ “(Lawler, S. 2008:2). This highlights the idea that the basis of identity is that of sameness and difference which was also expressed by Zygmunt Bauman. This idea of sameness and differences

In most case, identity is shaped by culture. Since culture is a set of ideals life practices, routines and attitudes set up by a certain community hence culture plays a major role in shaping the identity of an individual. An individual’s character and attributes can be because of their background. This is due to the set up that one has grown up (Dumas 19). People tend to learn more about their culture, and as they grow up it becomes part of them. They embrace the culture’s beliefs and tend to do things following the set routines. The aspect of following the set routine and beliefs play a significant part in shaping the identity of an individual.

One’s identity is who or what a person is and how they are perceived by themselves and others. Your identity defines who you are and where you fit in. It is a self-representation of your interests, relationship, social activity and much more. Some believe our sense of identity and belonging is shaped by various factors, including our experiences, relationships, and our environments. Conversely, others believe that personality is shaped by nature, and that one is defined by their biological characteristics and hereditary traits passed down from previous generations. Nevertheless a combination of both nature and nurture shapes us throughout life. For a majority of the population their journey to find their identity and belonging can often

Everything we as human beings come into contact with in the social world has a role, however minor, in helping to shape our individual identities. However, the question has been posed, is it culture and socialisation which are more influential as a social process in developing our identity or is it the social structures which are the main shapers in developing our identity? The culture we are raised in and the people that we come into contact with on a daily basis as a young child are the first encounters we have with socialisation. As children we imitate those close to us and habits begin to form. Through this imitation we also learn to express our emotions. These behaviours are ingrained in us from an early age and are the first basic