Identity essay

Sometimes the values that an individual internalizes may not align with their self-authentic and may result in unfulfilling life. If an individual lacks a coherent sense of identity, it may lead in uncertainty on what they really what in life. An individual may hold multiple identities in which, each identity has its meaning and expectations. People express their identity through different ways such as culture, communication, context, and power. Individual feels good when people recognize their essential identity where they may feel valued and appreciated and if people fail to notice their identity, it may affect their self-esteem. Nonverbal communication may send a critical message to the people who are observing you about your personality and behavior. Communication is a fundamental aspect of strengthening the cultural identity of an individual.

The third way that an individual can express their identity is through the context of an individual which, is determined by the social or the physical situation in that communication takes place. Context includes the physical, social, historical and political structure that communication takes place. Power is also a significant way of expressing individual identity in such a way that a specific group that has more power may determine the system of communication of the entire society. In most uses when an individual uses a symbol such as gestures to communicate, they always assume that the other person shares the same symbol system. The symbolic meanings are conveyed both verbally and non-verbally. To some extent, people may disagree about the meaning of verbal and non-verbal symbols where people my interpreted differently.

People negotiate their identity through the channel of communication where people send verbal and receive oral and non-verbal messages. People consult their identity through communication because to some extent a message may contain more than a single meaning and in most cases when an individual communicates, they assume that the other person receives the intended purpose. 3) At What Stage Are You in Your Identity Development? Why? What Experiences or People Have Influenced Your Identity Development? The identity development stage consists of three substantial models that are minority identity development model, majority identity development model, and multiracial identity development model. The minority identity development model states that most people who are recognized as part of the minority group tend to stand out and get recognition as different.

The people in this group tend to acknowledge their identity faster than those in the majority group. The model consists of four stages of development that are an unexamined stage where an individual as a minimal or no concern of ethnicity. Conformity stage where a person moves from a passive acceptance of the dominant value system of culture to a more active one. In the most case, as members of the middle class, we blame the members of the upper-class for our conditions and social, economic realities which, is due to the biased and unjust social-political system. The people who have influenced my identity are the members of the upper-class group where they make us feel embarrassed about the history that was implemented to some members of the middle class and also make us feel guilty about our identity.