Self-Identity As Part of the Term Paper

Interestingly other sociologists take a different approach, noting social identity is many things, inclusive of the foundational "aspects of ones selfhood" (Brubaker & Cooper, 2000: 8). Self-identity seems the opposite note Brubaker & Cooper (2000) of solidarity and rather is more the result of "interactive development" amongst people that share similar beliefs, experiences and opinions.

It is important to note however when one reflect on self-identity the many contexts in which the term is utilized. True understanding suggests one must first have an idea of self, about what that self is, how well the self functions and how much the self is similar to and different from the world at large (Jenkins, 2004; Brubaker & Cooper, 2000). Also posed is the question of meaning when one refers to the self, and whether the self means the same for those attempting to define it. Most people would define the self as the internal nature of an individual, as compared to the external nature of a person, or the persona one chooses to put on when alone compared to the persona one adopts in the company of others. Still others suggest the term self is one in the same with the term identity; however a more plausible suggestion offered by Jenkins (2000) is that the self is not the same as the identity, but rather "an individual's reflexive sense of his or her own particular identity" (p. 27). This reflective sense of self then must be individuals perceptions of how their identity or perceptions of identity are related to others and also different from others, an argument presented earlier.

To compound the issue further, there are individuals of the new age perspective that may argue that self and social identities are one in the same. Modern concepts of new age consciousness or universal consciousness suggest there is no difference between self or social identity. This is because according to new age theorists, individuals are part of a collective group, one that comes from the same foundation, one capable of following the same beliefs or patterns.

Conclusions

Self-identity is a complex sociological term to define, and is at the very least similar if not the same for many as social identity. Both self and social identities derive from the manner in which people interact with themselves and their environment, and the people in their environment. It seems unlikely that self and social identity are the same thing, for logically one may deduce far too many people present a different identity when in a social setting as opposed to when they are alone. One conclusion the researcher can make with authority however is that it is logical to separate the terms "self" and "identity" as well as "social" before one can logically explain where each of these concepts originate from. The researcher believes the self is something that one creates from the moment conceived until the time they pass on. The identity of a person whether public or private is the characteristics one chooses to follow or adopt in order to establish the similarities and differences they share with other members of society. Further research is necessary to better define these concepts and discover how people manage their self and social identities if one is to truly understand the nature of these complex sociological concepts.

References

Brubaker, R. (1984). The limits to rationality: An essay on the social and moral thought of Max Weber, London: George Allen and Unwin.

Jenkins, R. (2004). Social Identity. New York: Routledge.

Lesko, W.A. (2002), Readings in social psychology: General, classic & contemporary selections (5th Edition). Boston: Allyn & Bacon

TenHuisen, E. & Standish, a.M. (2004). Caregivers Interventions, Child…