Introduction
As made obvious from the topic, here we explore the different factors that define or help make up the identity of an individual. There are often certain factors that act as restraining forces as well when it comes to the full manifestation of self-identity of an individual. There are factors that are formed for a person’s personality development such as environmental, physical and social factors during the early years, hormonal changes and surrounding influences in the intermediate years along with positive and negative experiences through the course of development of adult life.
Factors that affect the identity aspect of an individual
When an individual is growing up, there are certain aspects that influence personality development such as:
- Environment aspects.
- Values.
- Beliefs of an individual as shaped by family environment and culture or traditions.
- Religious norms as per community that an individual belongs to.
- Friends, family members and other people who come in contact with an individual.
Positive and negative influences
The self-identity of an individual depends on the environment that he or she grows up in. With negative environmental influences, an individual will have low self-esteem as such factors negate a positive mindset development and in turn, lead to the low self-concept. An individual develops from being a child when they are given cultural values from society and family members to educational influences, effects of friends and teachers and other people they come in contact with while growing up.
What research reveals about myself identity?
How do different issues affect this aspect in a person? People act in different ways and make lifestyle choices every day, which are also the manifestation of personal identity. Research studies reveal that:
- Emotions, personality traits, and beliefs and how they would develop in a person are often determined by DNA that is passed on from parents.
- Grandparents remember events and narrate them in certain ways that are passed on to later generations.
- Myself identity traits, at least some of them, are defined by genes of individuals.
- Show of violence or demonstration of the same can be less empowering and negate positive development of personality.
- A grown-up, as an individual, faces pressure from the community and family beliefs which also forces them to put on a different identity or assume a personality that would be different from what they would be if left on their own.
Postmodern theories talk about self-identity and how it is influenced by external social factors. These often force a person to put on a mask, in order to conform to traditions, what is right and what is wrong. Hence, often an individual creates a self-identity that is forced upon by society or when a person needs to fit into an environment that exists around them. For instance, consumer culture has been found to influence how most Americans make decisions and think which is reflected in their lifestyles. This is as per many social and psychological thesis statement findings.
- Physiological aspects
For an individual to be formed, physiological aspects play a part. For example, when growing up, as a child, one is influenced by what parents and other adults teach norms and traditions that are followed or social etiquettes that are taught. Children, as an individual, also get influenced by their friends and other social norms that they see around them. Even, the political scenario that defines social setup influences life and childhood aspects of an individual.
With the commencement of puberty and adolescence, hormonal influences on experiences become dominant in psychological identity. Hence, along with existing social effects, hormones and how they influence emotions to play a distinct role in personality development and self-identity. With sexual encounters with the opposite sex young adults have experiences that can hinder or help promote positive self-esteem and development.
- Importance of social aspects
As an individual progresses from young adult years to a more mature stage in their life, the educational scenario or career decisions one takes up influence personality development and self-identity. Often, a successful marriage of personality and career chosen helps an individual succeed in their work or career field. For instance, someone who is artistically inclined would perform better and excel in creative fields of work or art. However, the same person placed in a restricted field of work or discipline would find failure in most aspects and would have a lower sense of self-esteem and affect self-identity.
- Psychology crisis types
In certain cases, when a person finds the existing social norms and acceptance to be as against their natural beliefs and thoughts, a crisis can emerge in negotiating such aspects between two or more people. Such issues might come up in cementing a relationship between two people. Often, differences in culture, expectations, and beliefs can lead to identity problems. Here there is a conflict of identity between people or how they want others to perceive them as.
- Sense of self
As may be found in a self-identity essay, it is stated as an example of how an individual can express themselves in writing which in turn can reflect on their self-identity. The sample of writing, such as poetry and stories help to unhinge what is innermost inside a person, their desires, reflections, what motivates them and what they find pleasurable. These are sources where the right sample of a person’s true identity can be found. The conflicts or negotiating aspects can also be expressed in writing as a way of expressing one’s individuality.
Conclusion
Though self-identity is often influenced by social norms or what a person might want others to think of themselves, the true manifestation of a person’s traits or character lies in belief and confidence in oneself beyond what are existing cultural or social norms. Positive encouragement from peers and parents can help strengthen self-belief, and the right guidance towards a career choice that is in tune with one’s natural abilities will help in the successful establishment of a self-identity that is as per the true and inherent nature of an individual.
