Session – 2

Identity:
Identity may be defined as a combination of many selves that one can use to represent who
they are at any one point in time. For example, if a person is an Engineer when he is "on the
job" he will likely assume the identity of professionalism, knowledge, charisma, and strength.
The person of authority that he must become requires his full attention and dedication to that
role. As from my OB-1 course, I learnt the Identity theory which is mentioned below,
Personal Identity: Personal identity refers to self-categories which define the individual as a
unique person in terms of their differences from other in-group persons.

Social Identity: Social identity is a person's sense of whom they are based on their group
membership. The world divided into ‘them’ and ‘us’ based through a process of social
categorization. There are three mental processes involved in evaluating others as ‘us’ or
‘them’ i.e. in-group and out-group.

The first is the categorization. One categorizes objects to understand them and identify
them. In the second stage, social identification, one adopts the identity of the group we have
categorized ourselves as belonging to. The last stage is social comparison. Now one have
categorized themselves as part of a group and have identified with that group he/she then tend
to compare that group with other groups. If their self-esteem is to be maintained their group
needs to compare favourably with other groups.

During the today’s activity based on the statements that I wrote on self, I realized that most of
my statements were referred me towards the individualistic behaviour then I realized it is
because from my childhood I would like to prefer to stay alone and spent more time on self.
My dad also always encouraged me to become a self-dependent and self-decision maker. So I
always feel that I am alone responsible for the consequences of my actions. After starting my
professional journey I slowly transforming myself to sociable person and that is one of the
reasons that I joined TISS.
During today’s session, one of the topics which made me think is the Manual Scavenging
job, which is the most extremely difficult task. It is difficult because it disrespects the dignity
of a person. As I mentioned above the kind of job the person is doing has a greater impact on
one’s identity. In the current social context, it is deeply rooted in the mindset of the people
that Manual Scavengers are labour oriented and low graded persons. It can be changed
through various interventions by making their job easier using robots and automation. Most
of the state governments also taking initiatives like providing other jobs to them which retain
their dignity and respect in the society.

References:
1. Donelson R, Forsyth, Group Dynamics, seventh edition, Chapter 3
2. Tajfel, H., Turner, J. C., Austin, W. G., & Worchel, S. (1979). An integrative theory
of intergroup conflict. Organizational identity: A reader, 56-65.