Identity Flashcards
Define the meaning of the empirical self
proposed by William James, that the self is made up of the material, spiritual and social self
Define the material self
All the things you would call yours, people, places and possessions
Define the social self
Things that are tied close to you, e.g., relations, ethnicity, religion, heritage
Define the spiritual self
A person’s inner components, e.g., attitudes, emotions, traits & ambitions
Define self- context
a dynamic recollection of self-representations, that are formed through personal experiences or environmental interpretations. This can be changed by changes in views of one’s body, one’s relationships & wider society
Define self- identity
it can be defined as a specific common space, identity is reflexive (cause & effect relationship) & pre-reflexive and related to practice (what we do in our lives), roles & responsibilities. They do not exist in isolation; it is about others and our relation to them. Many identities and no single identity.
What does the sociological approach suggest about the self?
It suggests that the self is shaped and emerged from society
Argued self cannot be understood without understanding society
Define prereflexive deposition
it is anawareness we have before we do any reflecting on our experience;(2) it is an implicit and first-order awareness rather than an explicit or higher-order form of self-consciousness
Define Habitus
In sociology, habitus refers to the way people perceive and respond to the social world they inhabit, based on their personal habits, skills, and disposition of character1. It is a set of norms and expectations unconsciously acquired through experience and socialization
Relations of power shape us, provide opportunities and exposes to new environments, what is seen as ‘normal’ has been shaped to us by pre-existing relations of power
Describe the effect of social class on our habitus
Bourdieu suggests society shapes habitus, the people of our class surround us, and influence what we want, eat, wear etc.
We are normally more likely to be influenced by those of the same class to us as we can afford similar things
This leads to a ‘taste’ for things being developed.
Anything that does not match our habitus is seen as inferior and ‘not for us’,
This affects how we feel about ourselves & how we distinguish ourselves from others
What happens if our habitus is challenged?
It can lead to feelings of anxiety, distress & discomfort
This can provide reasons why we find it difficult to make & sustain changes even if we are consciously aware that we need to
Give an example of an inequality
Gender inequality
Women are still expected in some places to take on maternal roles, stay at home and have the father be the ‘bread winner’
e.g., women are nurses, men are doctors
How does the presence of an illness affect identity
Those who become ill are not expected to upkeep social obligations or be responsible for their illness
we do expect them to get help in order to get well
However the presence of an illness can be disruptive to someone life e.g., their goals & ambitions, career
It can lead to a loss of self, a poor self-image, disruption to routine and patterns
It can cause distress and make people feel uncapable of accomplishing tasks at all
Define enacted stigma & felt stigma
enacted stigma: discrimination based on perceived inferiority
felt stigma: the feeling of shame from fear of enacted stigma
Define athletic identity
it is believed that the more a person identifies with being an athlete, the more difficult it is to deal with injuries & setbacks.
Elite athletes tend to have higher athletic identities and are more likely to suffer depressive symptoms following injury.
What are the advantages & disadvantages of athletic identity
Advantages: It could boost athletic performance.
Disadvantages: it can lead to an increased chance of burnout & anxiety
It could also lead to overcommitment to the sport, reducing other important aspects of life, e.g., social life, it could lead to a steady decline in performance over time
How does a diagnosis affect identity?
Most people require a formal diagnosis e.g., from a doctor
To give their condition legitimacy and be able to justify it to others & themselves,
People feel encouraged to conceal their illness, in hopes of presenting themselves as healthy, hiding distress from others
It can cause people to believe they no longer fit with their identity
