Integrating “Goal Derived” Categories
In reference to social categories, Barsalou (1983) found that people also create “goal-derived” categories, which can shape perception (Fitzsimons & Shah, 2009, p. 1468). Research conducted by Fitzsimons and Shah (2009) found that goals shape both basic relationship cognition and social categorization, which suggests a usefulness of integrating goals into the study of social categorization. Hence, a person’s active goals “increase accessibility of means and decrease the accessibility of competing goals” (Fitzsimons & Shah, 2009, p.1468). Such categories would then separate groupings into “things that can help me with my goal” and “things that can obstruct my goal,” which, in turn, help people to construct goal-promoting environments (Fitzsimons & Shah, 2009, p.1473). Fitzsimons & Shah’s (2009) findings demonstrate a new type of social category—goal instrumentality. This would support the theory stating that social categorization reflects individual information such as race, gender, age, etc., while also having a concern for information about the relationship between groups (Fitzsimons & Shah, 2009).
In addition, Reicher and Hopkins (2001) shed light on the possible dangers of taking categories for granted, by
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98). Context, as emphasized by identity theory, is much more important than social identity researchers generally have acknowledged the existence of personal identity. Stets and Burke (2000) suggest that “being and doing are both central features of one’s identity” (p.234). Moreover, such a theory would address assistance and reflection as central aspects of the self, while providing a stronger integration of the concepts of the group, role and the person (Stets & Burke,
According to Salmon, 1985 (Salmon 1985, p171), development and change are not limited to childhood but continue throughout our lives. It is however argued that personal identities are similar to social identities, and include group or collective identities.
The first author I chose is Captain John Smith. Captain John Smith fits into course unit two: Explorers and early colonists. Captain John Smith was among the survivors in Jamestown while other settlers died from starvation, sickness, or the Indian’s arrows. He saw the problems of Jamestown and constant deaths, so he became the leader of Jamestown. One quote from the text supports this, “In Jamestown he soon emerged as the leader who could save the colony from ruin” (McMichael 41). John decided to use his skills, courage and intelligence, from being a mercenary soldier to become the leader of the Jamestown colony. Captain John Smith fits into unit two because he came to America to become part of the first permanent English colony in America.
The public self is often times not the true self. This indication of a difference between the public and true self leads to the idea that the self and identity of an individual are different concepts. The self, is a person’s essential being that makes each individual unique compared to others; whereas the identity, is a person’s character that is essentially created to help the individual fit into society. These two concepts begin to form early in life through influences from society, family, and culture. However, as the individual beings to assimilate the world around them, their sense of identity transforms in order to adapt to the new environment, while their sense of self remains the same.
The use of just laws was first abided by Dr. King in his “Letter From Birmingham Jail.” In this letter, he mentions the necessity of just laws in society and how individuals are morally obliged to follow them. He also makes a clear distinction between “just” and “unjust” laws, further advocating his beliefs. Dr. King defines the two different laws in his interpretation of what they actually mean in society. A just law is a human-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. In other words, a law that can uplift the personality of an individual is a law that is just. Also, citizens also have their moral responsibility in a constitutional democratic society to obey and abide by the laws of the country. In comparison to just
This theory looks at how we present ourselves in social situations in terms of our identity.
An individual’s identity has an impact on our behavior (Bibble, Bank, Anderson, et al., 1985). According to Thorits and Virshup (1997) they assert that there are categories that individual’ s employ to explain themselves, which comprise sociodemographic characteristics such as social roles, social types, or personality traits. These categories guide identity-relevant behaviors based on identity ideals associated with meanings and expectations (Eifert, Adams, Dudley,
Capital punishment is one of those issues that divides Americans. It was one of the topics that the Pope spoke on during his recent trip to the United States. We know his take: stop it. Regardless of the side of the debate you fall on, most people would agree that if there is going to be capital punishment there should be equity in its use. In other words, if a crime is committed that is deemed worth of capital punishment, then it should be deemed so for everybody. This, sadly, is not the case.
For example, a female individual who believes in feminism will most likely identify higher with a group of feminists than a group of females that are ant-feminist. This strength in social identification leads to in-group favouritism whereby members see the members of their group in a positive manner and see members of other groups in a negative or denigrative manner (Swann Jr et al., 2009). Through the process of depersonalisation. self-categorisation and group membership, an individual develops a social identity that serves as a social cognitive schema for behaviours that are related to the group (Korte, 2007; Swann Jr et al., 2009).
It is studies like these that shed new light on self-identity, which define a different meaning of self-concept through racial-ethnic identity. To put it another way, identity theory gives an idea to individuals that one can
The issue of whether identity is socially constructed or an innate characteristic remains a contested one. For some, identity is a product of the society, interactions, influence, and practices while for others, it is biological or rather primordial. At the very basic, identity is an essential personal characteristics as it encompasses the membership to different groups, including religion, gender, and ethnicity, the traits people show and what others ascribe to them (Newman 126). Identity locates people in the social world and influences all their actions, thoughts, and feelings. Several renowned thinkers and philosophers offer their
Our perception of our identity is constantly changing, the groups we belong to, the people we talk to and the way we connect with others help to form our identity. There is one thing we all have in common despite our individual identities, is the need to belong. There’s no obligation to belong to only one group, you can belong to many. An individual can belong to many groups, which will then create multiple identities; hence our understanding of identity is never constant. Belonging to a loving family, group of caring friends that help us to develop our own sense of self. However, belonging can have a negative side. For example our families might have an expectation of us to do something that might alter our ambitions and interfere with
In today’s Western society, self-identity and social roles are important dimensions that are at times challenging to face. Social roles have always been a fundamental part of society and yet as time goes on, it seems to be increasingly difficult to understand. As discussed in class, in the medieval period, people were assigned roles based on family status. In modern days, however, societal roles have expanded and opportunities are endless, which raises the question: Is there more uncertainty about identity in modern society?
The world has become modern and global. Identification of the self is a complicated, though, an important problem of every individual. Self- identity is based on inner values and reflections on culture, politics and social interactions. The main point is that people label themselves to any particular group in the society (Worchel etc., 1998). According to Ferguson: “Identity commonly refers to which it makes, or is thought to make
This particular theory views identity as conditional and self motivated as well as being related to one’s culture. Although other theories on identity consider the personal and social identity to be separate, SCT considers the personal and social identity to be
Those kind of discriminations are what Taylor calls ‘strong evaluation’; the evaluation not only for “the objects in the light of our desires, but also the desires themselves” (Ibid, p.66). The strong evaluation as well as the subject-referring imports as a basis of such evaluation are strongly affective on human beings and their respective lives. To evaluate and classify into good/bad, higher/lower, or any other categories means to identify “what it is we really are about, what is really important to us” (Ibid, p.68).