Who Am I? Why Am I? Human beings are very inquisitive, curious and inquiring in nature. They want to know everything about the surrounding, universe what is the beginning of something? This question always has interest and curiosity in it. The inquisitive nature of man always forces him to know the history of things around him. He always loves to inquire about the development of different observable facts and events those are taking place around him. If it is so then it is quite natural that people think about their own self about the existence of their own individuality. It is believed that everything happens for a reason or we can say that if something is happening it has some valid or rational reason behind that happening. If it is so then the first question, which will jump into the mind, will surely be about the reason of my own existence. There are more or less 7 billion people living in this world and very few of them could mark their name by doing some exceptional things in their lives. Some are famous and loved by most of the people while there are some people who are notorious and people dislike them. But majority of the people in this world are simply good for nothing. They come and they die and nobody even notice their presence and their absence as well. (Olson, 2002)
If we have to categorize the expression of identity we may find that basically there are two different classes of identity these are social identity and personal identity. Social identity is a collective identity. Social Identity refers to the procedure by which people use to be characterized themselves in terms as well as groups which they share in the company of other inhabitants in the society. (Deaux, 2001) Social identity theory is a prominent theory, which may highlights the way of social identification of the people. The theory of social identity is a theory, which is intended to give an explanation about how it is that individuals build up a sense of attachment, association as well as belonging in any particular cluster. Theory of social identity is basically eyeing at the working of different and unlike people in any group, which is having some common and combines aim. Undoubtedly theory of social identity plays an imperative and significant part in the study of communal behavior and psychology. (Jan E Stes, 2002)
Psychologists believe that everybody is largely inclined to some extent by the social identity. Theory of social identity elucidates that how intergroup antagonism, rivalry and inequity can acquire so ferocious that individuals will be obsessed to take steps as severe as assassinate or the encouragement of legislation that is intended to marginalize the associates of other clusters. One out of the ordinary thing to note according to the social identity theory is that individuals are able to play their roles in numerous clusters. As per this theory the role of their identities, which are for the most part leading, is able to modify or amend. The modification or amendments in the roles is heavily relying on which faction they are bracketing together with. To explain this point I would like to take an example. Suppose a lesbian becomes a fashion designer. While performing her professional duties she may feel that she is more professional rather than a lesbian member of the society but as she will join the other group where she can find more like-minded girls her lesbian identity may overcome or dominate over her identity as a fashion designer. Henri Tajfel gave the social identity theory in the year 1979. The theory of social identity was initially developed to comprehend the psychosomatic root of intergroup biasness.
Personal identity means the individuality, uniqueness, distinctiveness and rareness of any person living in the society. Psychiatrists have done lots of work in the field of personal identity. The soul theory of personal identity means that a particular individual at one point in time or instant is the very identical individual like an individual at an afterward point in time or instant proviso he or she has very identical irrelevant soul very identical irrelevant soul. (Peter J. Burke, 2009)
The body theory of personal identity refers that a particular individual at one point in time or instant is the very identical individual like an individual at an afterward point in time or instant proviso he or she has very identical material body. (Personal Identity Theory SG, 2002) The idea of memory theory is very interesting and quite practical as well. John Locke presented the theory. He was of the view that every incident, experience or happening which a person keeps in mind being conscious of that incident, experience or happening must belong to that particular person. According to this theory if any individual memorizes any happening or occurrences of the earlier period, in that case that remembrance, reminiscence and recall must belong to that individual and must be an ingredient of what crafts him the individual he is. (Priccirillo, 2010)