As someone who studies psychology a lot, this makes my job as a professor very challenging. It can be hard to identify the individuals who belong to our society, and thus difficult to figure out how they differ from each other. Most of all, knowing what separates them from others isn’t easy to do either. While one would like to know that differences happen between people of the same personality type, most can’t tell. The internet is full of websites that list types but there is no clear description of the individuality within a population.
While identifying your own identity may make you feel uncomfortable or perhaps even confused, some people take great pride in their unique abilities to express themselves through fashion. Some even use their body to promote their art. Regardless of whether you identify with an individual or not, every person can find something that resonates with them, whether it’s clothing, hairstyles, or more. This is when it gets tricky because we identify differently from others. What is common among everyone is where differences fall into place. These are just a bunch of examples of people dressing differently. Here are the four main aspects of their identity that makeup being a person.
1. Personality Type:
While it’s tempting to label anyone who doesn’t fit into any one of the four different categories, we often don’t do. For example, despite being introverted, I still prefer writing, playing music, watching TV shows, listening to podcasts, etc. On the other hand, many people say they prefer living in a bubble or getting lost in their room rather than spending a large portion of their day participating in other people’s lives. A person’s personality is the result of experiences throughout life. They were born with certain talents, or traits and learned to be good at them early on in life. They come from someplace, so that means that they are from one culture, that one lifestyle, that one time of year.
People are different in many ways and sometimes these differences can affect their personalities, for example, if a person grew up in New England it’s likely that the way they speak is completely different from those in the South. Their religion, values, and beliefs might also change over time. All of these things can become evident in someone’s personality type, but this distinction can be hard to identify.
2. Culture:
Culture is defined by Aristotle as “that part of human activity, the sum total of the practices, institutions, rules, and other particulars, which are the expressions of a particular nation, race, or language or which serve to unify its people together and at the same time give them a sense of belonging.” If you’ve ever wondered about these things, or if you ever had trouble finding information about your native world of origin, you have found yourself looking for cultural identity. Whether one has a specific mindset or the way people interact with each other, what you think is unique about your culture will often depend on its uniqueness.
Many times I would search for a picture of myself online and get thousands of results. Often, however, the only thing I would see was a ‘black girl’, so that’s usually what would be my impression of someone else’s culture. Similarly, what I’m trying to do in class is to help students see themselves in a new light. To help them see their differences and to help us to better understand them we need to try and create a space for them to share their values and beliefs (and who knows maybe, one day they will actually fit into those groups?)
3. Traits/Powers/Values:
Many people know this as having a positive personality trait. Perhaps, the most famous personality trait as defined is extroversion. But it doesn’t have to be. There are numerous others that can make a person’s personality, one example being confidence and intelligence.
A person who is confident in their ability to accomplish anything will show less hesitation to go off into different situations or work on different projects. Someone who is smart and can do well in school is also more likely to make friends, do well in work, and succeed at anything outside of their career. Whatever traits or powers a person shows, they are who they are, and that means that they are a whole other level of identity. Not sure if you can recognize someone’s power? Try comparing them to your family. Are they able to maintain his or her temper? Do they get along with others? Everyone has strengths. When a person does things they enjoy, they are able to display it. You are never going to be successful at everything. So if someone has a tendency to love, they are considered to have a higher status than the average person with an average level of ability. An individual who shows no desire for personal growth and personal development is known as negative in today’s age and classified as mentally ill.
Another factor that can distinguish a person’s identity is religion. While some religions, or even some non-religions, allow people to practice their own identities by dressing a certain way, others reject this concept. People who identify as Christian, but wear different hair and dress codes than Muslims, will have a negative impact on the community. This is especially problematic because religious identity affects one’s mental health in a negative way. Religious identity has helped many people to thrive, but it needs to stop in order to ensure that everyone has a chance to live without prejudice or making that decision before they are ready.
4. Values/Beliefs:
Values and beliefs are a big part of everyone’s self identity. One’s values are what shapes who they are. We are all free to choose one or the other, but in order to form a complete identity it’s crucial that we know what makes them tick. Some people believe that success comes from money, while others believe that it comes from the fact they have accomplished so much that they want to. Other people hold onto the belief that women should stay home, but others don’t, and they work and have children. Beliefs are a major part of one’s identity.
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Beliefs don’t come from a situation but instead stem from the choices one makes in life. Just because somebody likes baseball doesn’t mean that they value success. Even though religion is such a huge force in society, but also in our consciousness, one person feels like they have the right to decide what God wants them to believe. Whereas another person believes they are more worthy of God than anyone else, this individual doesn’t take offence and says, “That’s why I don’t believe.” Those who follow certain principles of life often believe that what God wants them to believe will have a major impact.
Now we know, what is your identity? Which groups do you identify with? How do you identify yourself? Does your identity reflect your cultural background? If you answered yes then congratulations! You have successfully identified yourself. Did they do well in class? Did everybody know each other? Where did they grow up? Where did the majority of their friends fall in line? Is it a male, female, rich or poor, Republican or Democrat? Find your identity and figure out how that fits in with those around you.
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