...similarities and differences in the way identity is conceptualised by the psychosocial theory of identity and social identity theory. I will start this essay by explaining both theories, Psychosocial theory and Social Identity Theory mentioning what is understood by identity and answering my essay question describing their similarities and differences. Identity is a major area of study for Psychology. Over the decades many psychologists in the field tried to explain what identity was, and are still to explain how it is formed. Identity is what defines us as human beings, what we do on our day-to-day life, and our interactions within society. Psychosocial Theory Erickson viewed identity as a psychosocial process. A psychological assessment of ‘me’ and a social assessment of ‘me’. For Erikson, society where children and adolescents grow up would have an impact to their identity, therefore his theory was from point of view that identity was a psychosocial process. Erickson argued that we created our identity from a balanced, constant and reliable sense of who we are and what we are to our society, our group community (as cited in Phoenix, 2007, p.53). He developed the sense core identity where an individual would base all his identity building up from our past towards the future. Erikson believed an individual would take their identity for granted if life was good but to the minimal problem this identity would be questioned (e.g. illness or...
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...Introduction People want to feel accepted and connected to other people. Even though everyone’s social lives look different, most people fear isolation and search for their social identity. The Social Identity Theory unpacks the process of gaining one’s social identity and explains the competitive trends between social groups. This paper will first give an in-depth summary of SIT that will be later applied to a movie example that connects directly to the theory. Lastly, I will share my interpretations of the movie and the Social Identity Theory through the lens of my application process. Summary of Social Identity Theory The Social Identity Theory is formed around people’s association with their social groups. A social group is defined as...
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...Consequences of Social Categorization and Social Identity Theories Vernon Smith BA426 Managing Cultural Diversity vsmith003@regis.edu Consequences of Social Categorization and Social Identity Theories Introduction In the modern world, workforce diversity has developed to be among the most imperative elements. Many organizations including Apple Inc. and all over the world have employed diversity managers to help develop effective workforce diversification (Podsiadlowski et al., 2013). The increased interest in workforce diversity is not surprising. As organization move to develop organizational structures including teams and groups as well as multinational workforce, effective communication within diversified workforce becomes imperative for smooth functioning of organizations (Podsiadlowski et al., 2013). Diversity is often described in the context of the beneficial aspects of variety in the workforce. However, the definition of diversity still remains unclear. Van Ginkel and Homan (2013) state that the debate on diversity mostly confuses various forms of a variety of workforce. One way to achieve workforce variety is through social categorization, where group membership is determined by mutual characteristics such as race, sex, age, gender, and status. Legal provisions on diversity have continuously emphasized the creation of representative social categorization approach in the workforce of an organization (Podsiadlowski et al., 2013). In this context, the workforce demography...
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...The Big Five Personality Theory and Gender Identity According to American Psychological Association (2000), personality refers to individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving. The study of personality focuses on two broad areas: One is understanding individual differences in particular personality characteristics, such as sociability or irritability. The other is understanding how the various parts of a person come together as a whole. A number of different theories have emerged to explain different aspects of personality. Some theories focus on explaining how personality develops while others are concerned with individual differences in personality. The following are just a few of the major theories of personality proposed by different psychologists: Behavioral Theories, Psychoanalytic Theories. This paper focus on the Big Five personality dimensions to explain childhood personality development. Big Five Personality theory described the personality in childhood and later in life as a set of variations across five primary dimensions identified by researchers: extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness/intellect. Each bipolar factor (e.g., Extraversion vs. Introversion) summarizes several more specific facets (e.g., Sociability), which, in turn, subsume a large number of even more specific traits (e.g., talkative, outgoing) (Gosling, Rentfrow and Swann Jr, 2003). These basic factors can explain and predict...
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...Social identity theory (SIT) attempts to understand how social categorization affects intergroup behaviours (Tajfel and Turner, 1979). SIT is associated with a number of pioneering studies, most of which rely on the ‘minimal group paradigm’. In recent years, SIT has been explored with the use of additional types of study but I am going to discuss studies using the minimal group paradigm. Such studies are directly relevant to the evaluation of the theory and several have been instrumental in its development. SIT is based on a number of inter-related concepts: social categorization, social identity, social comparison and positive distinctiveness. Social categorization divides the social environment into ingroups (to which an individual belongs) and outgroups (to which the individual does not belong). Social identity is the part of our self-concept based on knowledge of our membership of one or more social groups. It is separate from personal identity – which is the part of our self-concept that derives from the way we perceive our personality traits and the personal relationships we have with other people (Turner, 1982). Whereas personal identity is associated with interpersonal behaviours, social identity is related to intergroup behaviours. Our social identity contributes to how we feel about ourselves, so we seek positive social identities to maintain and enhance our self-esteem. Positive social identities may result from the process of social comparison as we continuously...
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...Social identity theory is a theory which is intended to explain how people develop a sense of belonging and membership in particular groups, and how the workings of intergroup discrimination work. Social identity theory plays an important role in the study of social psychology. To some degree, everyone is influenced by social identity theory. Social Identity Theory tries to explain such intergroup discrimination in the 'real world' as well as in the circumstance of the minimal groups. The theory claims a process of social identification and positive self-esteem, “People can boost their self-esteem through their own personal achievements or through affiliation with successful groups” (Kassin, Fein, & Markus, 2008, 150). When a person is a part of a successful group, their”in-group”, it influences their beliefs and values because it makes them feel good about themselves because being a part of that group makes them successful as well, it makes them feel as if they belong somewhere in this group and are an important part of it which leads to higher self-esteem. People may fear their out-group’s because one may not like the fact that they do not belong to this certain group and having a feeling of not belonging may lower ones self-esteem. “When people feel threatened by their own mortality, they tend to seek greater affiliation with their in-groups and exhibit greater prejudice against out-group’s, in part to reaffirm their sense of place and purpose in the world.” ” (Kassin...
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...Cartesian Dualism vs. the Identity Theory Dualism is a view that attempts to explain the relationship between mind and matter. Aristotle and Plato have tackled their version on dualism. Cartesian means “pertaining to the thought of Descartes” according to Edward Feser, “Philosophy of Mind.” Cartesian Dualism originates from Rene Descartes whose version of dualism is well known and an accepted explanation of the mind and body being vastly different. Let’s go deeper in the thoughts of Descarte’s and the support to the validity of his view on dualism. According to Professor Edward Feser’s book “Philosophy of Mind” Descarte’s “dualism claims that there is a difference between the mind and the body. Basically the mind is different from the body. We need a body to sustain life, whereas Descarte’s view is that the mind is an immaterial object. The mind allows a person to think, hope, believe and even doubt. These exist only in the mind and not a physical object. They are not physical, but the body is. Cartesian dualism clearly separates the conscious (mind) as a separate non-material form. Now let’s look deeper into the physical aspects of the body and the physical aspect of the mind. Descarte’s view depicts the body and the mind as extremely different. The body is a materialistic object; it has height, width, has movement and takes up physical space. The body itself is full of chemicals, water, tissue, organs and a skeletal frame that makes the body a physical object. These...
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...iconic line of “who are you?” is a heavy question of identity. According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, identity is defined as “the condition of being the same with something described or asserted;” identity is purely derived from comparing two subjects. Attempting to describe one's self through comparisons is a difficult task; as no two people are identical. As shown through Alice in Wonderland, language cannot effectively describe an individual's identity. Alice’s identity is questioned and doubted, especially with the physical changes she experiences throughout the book. At the beginning of the story, Alice is an aloof schoolgirl who often acts without thinking of the consequences. This lack of foresight leads Alice into situations where she becomes uncertain of her own identity. Alice falls down the rabbit hole, “never once considering how in the world she was to get out again (Carroll 16).” Alice is confident in...
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...I. Short answers 1. Qualitative identity refers to a relation that has a one to many relationship, and which the objects in question have the same properties but are not the same substance. Numerical identity is a one to one relation and refers to two things that are exactly the same substance. The ship of Theseus is a thought experiment illustrating this, in which a ship (S1) sets out to sea and over time each piece of the wooden ship is replaced by new, but identical pieces of wood (S2). The old wood is then saved and brought back to land to assemble a “new” ship (S3) using all of the pieces from the original one. Therefore, the original ship (S1) is qualitatively identical to both (S2) and (S3), but (S1) cannot be numerically identical to...
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...Understanding Consumption in Context Why am I obsessed with the consumption of toiletries and personal grooming products? It was September ‘08 when I first came to the UK. I remember walking down the high street. I had to buy basic care, so someone suggested that I go to the Boots store. It wasn’t that easy because when I entered the store I was surprised to see the huge collection of healthcare and grooming products. I was extremely excited. Just like a kid in a candy store I went around the store more than twice. There was something in all the sections that seemed like as if were made especially for me. Eventually, I ended up purchasing a lot more than I wanted in the first place. This was just a beginning, now that I know, to what has become my obsession to use these grooming and healthcare products. Shopping for healthcare and grooming products in India is a completely different experience to what it is in the United Kingdom. There are not any dedicated stores for healthcare products such as Boots, Super Drug. The differences in such consumption patterns can be better understood through the concept of Sociohistoric Patterning of Consumption, which suggests that the institutional and social structures systematically influence consumption, such as class, community, ethnicity, and gender. I had never seen, until then, a store with such collection of healthcare products. It was a totally new experience for me. Maybe it was also...
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...P1- Discuss factors which may affect the development of self- esteem. This essay will be discussing factors which may affect the development of self- esteem. The main topics that will be looked at are, the growth promoting climate, the looking glass self, self-actualisation, ego identity and constructing of self. . Carl Rogers’ person-centred approach to change and understanding personality and human relationships is focused on demonstrating the conditions required for enabling a growth-promoting climate and the tendency, creativity and empowerment of people to achieve their highest potential. The approach provides the conditions for a growth-promoting climate, a relationship that enables people to discover the capacity to use it for growth and change, it is a relationship that doesn’t position itself from a perspective of “how can I treat or cure, fix or change this person?”, instead from a place of “how can I provide a relationship which this person may use for their own individual growth?”. (PCA York’s 2006) The looking-glass self is a social psychological concept, created by Charles Horton Cooley in 1902, stating that a person's self grows out of society's interpersonal interactions and the perceptions of others. The term refers to people shaping their self-concepts based on their understanding of how others perceive them. Cooley clarified that society is an interweaving and inter-working of mental selves. There are three main components of the looking-glass self which...
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...Social Identity Development: Jones, S. R. & McEwen, M. K. (2000). A conceptual model of multiple dimensions of identity. Journal of College Student Development, 41(4), 405-414. A diverse group of female students at a university was interviewed in examining multiple dimensions of identity to fill a gap in studying development which has only considered a single dimension of identity. The conceptual model proposed for complex identity differentiates the core representing the inner self, how an individual perceives themselves, with the outside identity that is defined by others. Each factual dimension surrounds the core as intersecting rings, asserting the importance of considering multiple dimensions mutually and holistically. The contextual influences are significant to continually relocate the dots on the rings, which...
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...Erik Erikson: Psychosocial Development Theory MGMT. 8010 – Management in Human and Societal Development Winter Quarter, 2011 Dr. Kenneth C. Sherman, Professor Everett Cordy, everett.cordy@waldenu.edu Student ID Number: A00186883 Walden University December 9, 2011 Abstract In this exercise, I explore the Psychosocial Development Theory of Erik Erikson. An explanation is given as to why this particular theory was selected for focus, and why Erickson appeals to me, both personally and professionally. Lastly, five (5) scholarly resources (in APA format), that I will consult as I begin to explore Erickson, are appended. Erik Erikson: Psychosocial Development Theory I chose Erik Erikson as the theorist to study. I chose Erik Erikson because his psychosocial development theory is applicable to a wide-range of management situations where understanding how personality and behavior are developed and manifested is valued. I am interested to find out if Erikson’s development model can be applied in my research fields of interests of Employment Law and Conflict Resolution Management. Please find attached hereto a list of five (5) scholarly sources that I will consult as I begin to explore Erik Erikson. References Cornett, C. (2000). Ideas and identities: The life and work of Erik Erikson/Identities architect: A biography of Erik H. Erikson, Clinical...
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...Everyday people use identity to get a sense of meaning and belonging in their lives. However, by identifying with certain groups come ascribed and avowed identities. The positive outcomes are mutual avowed identities that results in the creation of certain ideologies. The negative outcomes are the stigmas and stereotypes of those ascribed identities. By stereotyping people we somewhat categorize the group as a whole which can end bias views. But if we know that ignoring individualism in a group of people is ignorant, then why do we still do it? I will answer this question by analyzing Kory Floyd and Susan Fiske’s concepts of stereotypes while applying them to the growing co-culture of cannabis users using a High Times magazine article as my...
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...Erik Erikson Author’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Institutional Affiliation: Course Details: Date of Submission: Erik Erikson Introduction Erik Erikson was a rare psychologist who created an eight-step model outlining the different steps in development psychology in the growth of an ordinary human being from birth to old age. His specific insights concerning human mental processes would affect the way people reacted to children and foment a deep interest in studies in human psychology. Though other psychologists have improved on Erikson’s initial findings, original findings retain a lot of significance. There is need to research and study Erikson’s work with particular interest in his explanation of the ‘adolescent stage’ Erikson’s Contribution Freud’s views about the nature and construction of the human personality significantly influenced Erik Erikson’s understanding of humanity. There was a considerable difference between the two men: whereas Erikson was an ego psychologist, Freud was an ID psychologist. Erikson stressed on the functions of society and culture and the divergences that can occur within the ego itself while Freud highlighted the conflict between the superego and ID. At all psychosexual phases, Erikson observed that the person grows in three levels concurrently: social, biological, and psychological, which represent the person, his or her connection to society, and individualism. His work was a lifetime representation of human development...
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