Factors affecting individual identity Essay Example
Factors affecting individual identity Essay Example

Factors affecting individual identity Essay Example

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  • Pages: 2 (375 words)
  • Published: July 26, 2016
  • Type: Essay
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Individual Identity is the distinct features and characteristics of a person that distinguish them from others within a group or singly. Personality is often mistaken with identity, but personality depicts a person’s character and traits such as being shy, kind, introvert. Identity is through choice and control of the person’s independent capability or ability to act at their own will. Often individuals identify themselves with one group and yet be different to others thus marking the similarity and difference.

Ethnicity, the central feature of identity, it is the concept of a group of people jointly sharing the same cultural practices such as language, food, clothes, leisure activities, everyday exchanges and relationships, appearance like skin and hair colour and their place of origin. The use of symbols, whether to identify with or to distinguish from, a group or an individu

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al is important as it represents the identity. For example wearing a badge, a football shirt, and types of clothing.

Society has carved identities consequently allowing individuals to identify with groups and other individuals. However there is a contrast in how individuals perceive themselves and other’s perceptions. For instance, individuals may view themselves as high achievers, worthy of promotion, yet be viewed by their employer as less than successful. Multiple identities often cause tensions as there is conflict of identities for example being a parent, student and employee at the same time.

There are possible material, social and physical constraints that affect the level of agency which individuals may possess. Limited material resources adversely limit scope of individuals have such as poverty and economic constraints. Social factor that affect individualism, is th

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hierarchical system of social classification of the population according to their occupations for example the top level job is numbered at 1 and at the lowest level the unemployed and people that have never worked at number 8 according to UK’s government new social classification of the population.

 Other physical constraints that affect individualism is the human body itself factors like the ageing process, disabilities, illness, physical disabilities and the body size and shape may possibly restrict identity. The general concept of identity suggest that the human being can act independently to control and mould their own identities despite internal and external restraints.

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