Personal and Social Identity Flashcards

Flashcards about Personal and Social Identity

Micro-level

Interactions are personal and occur between individuals and their family, peers, and individuals in the community.

Meso-level

Groups in the community, village, school, workplace, local interest club, branch, organization, and state.

Macro-level

Interactions are impersonal and relate to large institutions, the media, law, and government, and are evident at a national and international level.

Socialization

The process by which humans become functioning members of society through agents of socialization, which shape them to conform to societal needs and expectations.

Family (Agent of Socialization)

Teaches language, manners, gender roles, and early values.

School (Agent of Socialization)

Teaches discipline, cooperation, competition, and societal rules.

Peers (Agent of Socialization)

Influences identity, social behavior, and trends.

Media (Agent of Socialization)

Shapes perceptions of gender, beauty, success

Religion (Agent of Socialization)

Instills moral frameworks and beliefs.

Workplace (Agent of Socialization)

Teaches responsibility, time management, and workplace norms.

Social Construct

A socially constructed aspect of life, actively and creatively produced by human beings.

Extrovert

Gains energy from the outer world and social relationships.

Introvert

Gains energy from their inner world and limited social interaction.

Self

The human ability to unconsciously consider oneself as an object.

Self-awareness

A psychological state in which people are aware of their traits, feelings, and behavior.

Self-concept

Composed of the various identities, attitudes, beliefs, and values that an individual holds about himself or herself and by which the individual defines himself or herself as a specific objective identity.

Family

An intimate group of people related through bonds of blood, sexual mating, or legal ties.

Kinship

The system in every human society that governs individuals and groups on the basis of biological relationships and marriage.

Birth Order Theory

The idea that the position of birth in the family can impact key aspects of personality and behavior

Ethnicity

Evident through their group’s shared cultural characteristics and an awareness of their common identity, expressed in a shared history, a common language and religion, common ancestry, customs, dress, cuisine and values.

Culture

A learnt way of life that is shared by a group of people.

Gender

Socially constructed characteristics that distinguish between what it means to be masculine or feminine.

Sexuality

Offers both influences and constraints due to the significant roles and social expectations associated with this aspect of human identity and behavior.

Beliefs

A set of opinions or convictions; ideas we believe in as the truth, which can be religious or non-religious.

Religion

Has a profound influence and authority in society through shaping rituals, defining sacred and profane behaviors, the nature of faith, the meaning of life and death and providing a means of understanding divinity.

Location

People often identify strongly with where they live.

Status

Refers to one’s social position in the hierarchy, influenced by income, job, education, ethnicity, etc.

Ascribed status

Given by birth (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity, family).

Achieved status

Earned through effort (e.g., career success, education, marriage).

Class

A social ranking based on power, privilege, and wealth with categories including working class, middle class, and upper class.

Peers

Those who are of a similar age group to an individual or those who share a very similar social status and experience.

Media

A powerful influence in our society, whether via television, radio, print or online newspapers, magazines, books, cinema, music, gaming, streaming services or social media platforms, that shapes our ideas, opinions, attitudes and behaviour through communicating ideas and images of the world.

School

Education systems are responsible for socialising young people with values and skills that are desired in a society

Continuity

Provides stability, allowing individuals to maintain a consistent sense of who they are.

Change

Introduces new experiences, roles, environments, and influences, such as social, cultural, technological, or personal changes.

Trust vs. Mistrust (Birth – 18 months)

Develops trust and security if needs are consistently met.

Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt (18 months – 3 years)

Gains independence and self-belief through exploration and choice.

Initiative vs. Guilt (3–5 years)

Builds self-confidence, learns to initiate actions and make decisions.

Industry vs. Inferiority (5–12 years)

Feels competent and proud through success and recognition at school/work.

Identity vs. Confusion (12–18 years)

Forms a strong personal identity and sense of direction for the future.

Intimacy vs. Isolation (18–40 years)

Develops deep, committed relationships based on trust and love.

Generativity vs. Stagnation (40–65 years)

Focuses on giving back through work, family, and community.

Integrity vs. Despair (65+ years)

Looks back with pride and satisfaction, achieving wisdom and peace.

Sensorimotor Stage (0–2 years)

Explores the world through senses and actions, develops object permanence, and understands cause and effect.

Preoperational Stage (2–7 years)

Develops language and uses symbols to represent objects, thinking is egocentric, and engages in pretend play but lacks logical reasoning.

Concrete Operational Stage (7–11 years)

Begins to think logically about concrete situations, understands conservation, can classify objects, and understands reversibility.

Formal Operational Stage (11+ years)

Can think abstractly, logically, and hypothetically, solves complex problems using deductive reasoning, and develops deeper moral and philosophical thinking.