Identity (Verhaege) Flashcards
Balance of tensions
Urge to merge vs urge to distance ourselves
1st:
- Assimilating messages of others so that they merge and form our identity
- Fear of abandonment
2nd:
- Desire to be separate, rejecting messages
- Strive for autonomy
- Fear of intrusion
These two opposing are important for forming identity, as it allows us to develop an individuality
Environment
Extremely important for development of identity. Forms a mirror that determines who we become.
Eg the culture you grow up in. It can only happen if there is love and respect. Otherwise foundation can’t be built. identity is than unstable.
Two fundamental tendencies
We want to be part of a whole but at the same time long for independence. Love drive vs death drive. Eros vs Thanatos etc.
We are our brains
The brain forms the hardware, the environment the software. We mirror our environment and genes sets limits within which the software is written.
Not tabula rasa, but tendencies and traits that form temperament and evoke reactions from caregivers. The child also chooses the interplay between identification and separation.
Family narrative
From early age we’re told generation stories. A form of identity research, a fascination, Feeling of belonging to a culture.
Narrative whole
Answers to existential questions. Includes religion, art, science etc. Where we grow up and who we grow up with/how we are raised makes us develop different identities.
Self -confidence -esteem and -respect
Reflects how others trusted, esteemed and respected you as a child. Determines how we relate to others.
Wrong identity forming
Identification (sameness) is taken too farL uniformed group arises and aggression is given external focus by targeting other groups (Nazi’s)
Separation (individualism) is taken too far. group forming suffers and leads to competition, social isolation and aggression.
Alienation
