Chapter 5: Identity and Culture

identity

• the concept of who we are

• characteristics of identity may be understood differently depending on the perspectives that people take-for example, social science, interpretive, or critical perspectives 

impression management theory

the ways by which individuals attempt to control the impressions others have of them

individualized identity

the sense of self as independent and self-reliant

familial identity

the sense of self as always connected to family and others 

spiritual identity

identification with feelings of connectedness to others and higher meanings in life

identity negotiation theory

a theory that emphasizes the process of communicating one’s own desired identities while reinforcing or resisting others’ identities as the core of intercultural communication 

avowal

the process by which an individual portrays himself or herself

ascription

the process by which others attribute identities to an individual

core symbols

• the fundamental beliefs that are shared by the members of a cultural group

labels

a category of core symbols, are names or markers used to classify individual, social, or cultural groups 

interpellation

the communication process by which one is pulled into the social forces that place people into a specific identity

minority identity

a sense of belonging to a non-dominant group

majority identity

a sense of belonging to a dominant group

gender identity

the identification with the cultural notions of masculinity and femininity and what it means to be a man or a woman 

cisgender

a person whose gender identity matches the biological sex that she or he was born into

transgender

identification with a gender that does not match one’s biological gender

sexual identity

one’s identification with various categories of sexuality

age identity

the identification with the cultural conventions of how we should act, look, and behave according to our age

racial identity

• identifying with a particular racial group

• although in the past racial groups were classified on the basis of biological characteristics, most scientists now recognize that race is constructed in fluid social and historical contexts 

ethnic identities

1. a set of ideas about one’s own ethnic group membership

2. a sense of belonging to a particular group and knowing something about the shared experience of the group

hyphenated Americans

US Americans who identify not only with being US citizens but also as being members of ethnic groups 

religious identity

a sense of belonging to a religious group

class identity

a sense of belonging to a group that shares similar economic, occupational, or social status 

national identity

national citizenship

stateless person

someone who does not hold citizenship in any country

regional identity

identification with a specific geographic region of a nation

personal identity

who we think we are and who others think we are

global nomads (third-culture kids)

people who grow up in many different cultural contexts because their parents relocated

culture brokers

individuals who act as bridges between cultures, facilitating cross-cultural interaction and conflict 

encapsulated marginal

a person who feels trapped by their marginalization

constructive marginal

a person who thrives in their marginalization

stereotypes

widely held beliefs about a group of people

model minority 

a stereotype that characterizes all Asians and Asian Americans as hardworking and serious and so a “good” minority 

prejudice

an attitude (usually negative) toward a cultural group based on little or not evidence

microaggression

subtle insults directed toward cultural groups often unconsciously

norms and behaviors

associated with particular identities

contextual identity formation

identity is the result of historical, political, economic, and discourse contexts