PDLyE II – UNIT 1 – Identity

Handout #1
LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING PICTURES:

Discuss the following questions (group work):

1) How do you relate the pictures with the topic of the unit?
2) Define IDENTITY with your own words.
3) Do we build our own identities or are identities the result of external
influences?
4) In your opinion, what makes our identities?
Watch the following video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvuCIwejwqw
1) What’s the video about?
2) How does it relate with the previous discussion?
Listen to the following song:

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4_eHRIXx-g
African – Peter Tosh
Don't care where you come from
As long as you're a black man
You're an African
No mind your nationality
You have got the identity of an African
'Cause if you come from Clarendon
And if you come from Portland
And if you come from Westmoreland
You're an African
No mind your nationality
You've got the identity of an African
'Cause if you come Trinidad
And if you come from Nassau
And if you come from Cuba
You're an African
No mind your complexion
There is no rejection
You're an African
'Cause if your ‘plexion
High If your complexion low, low, low
And if your ‘plexion in between
You're an African
No mind denomination
That is only segregation
You're an African
'Cause if you go to the Catholic
And if you go to the Methodist
And if you go to the Church of Gods
You're an African
No mind your nationality
You have got the identity of an African
'Cause if you come from Brixton
And if you come from Weesday
And if you come from Wingstead
And if you come from France
...Brooklyn

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...Queens
...Manhattan
...Canada
...Miami
...Switzerland
...Germany
...Russia
...Taiwan
Now, before you read, answer the following questions:
1) What might be discussed in the article?
2) What key vocabulary do you think you’ll learn?
3) Look at the title of the text. What type of text could it be: a personal narrative,
a descriptive essay or an argumentative essay? Why?
Read the following text:
Source: https://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/identity.html

Identity: Definition, Types, & Examples

By Eser Yilmaz, M.S., Ph.D.
Reviewed by Tchiki Davis, M.A., Ph.D.
What is identity? Discover the definition of identity, understand how it differs from
personality and character, and learn about its types.
Identity: Definition, Types, & Examples
Have you ever found yourself questioning who you are or your role in society? Do you
think about what makes you unique? This kind of contemplation is only natural, and
everyone deals with these existential questions occasionally to reassess or confirm
their perception of themselves. After all, a person’s subjective sense of self is an
essential factor that guides the way they carry themselves, who they associate with,
and how they make certain decisions.
In this article, we will define identity and learn about the different ways we identify
ourselves. Furthermore, we will discuss the distinctions between identity and similar
concepts and discover different types of identity.
What Is Identity (A Definition)
In the most general sense, we can define identity as a person’s sense of self,
established by their unique characteristics, affiliations, and social roles. Moreover,
identity has continuity, as one feels to be the same person over time despite many
changes in their circumstances.

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The seeds of identity are planted during a person’s childhood when their caregivers
influence them the most. Yet, as individuals transition from childhood to adolescence,
they start questioning who they are and how they fit in society. Hence, adolescents set
out to discover their senses of self by experimenting with different roles and behaviors
(Erikson, 1956). Although adults continue to reassess their identities throughout their
lives, the changes to their identities are relatively small. Therefore, according to the
famous psychologist Erik Erikson, this significant identity development during
adolescence is essential for forming a solid self-concept and developing a direction in
life (Erikson, 1956).
Here is a fun video that presents a philosophical view on identity and the complexity of
a continued sense of self.
Video: Who Am I? A Philosophical Inquiry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHwVyplU3Pg&t=152s
Identity vs. Role Confusion
The explorations during adolescence are vital for the development of our identities.
However, this identity formation process isn’t always as straightforward as it sounds.
For instance, some adolescents’ caregivers and social circumstances may restrict their
abilities to experiment with different roles and identities. As a result, these
adolescents may not fully discover a sense of self or a life purpose for a while.
Erikson calls the adolescence stage of self-discovery “identity vs. role confusion.”
According to this notion, individuals form their identities after testing various roles,
behaviors, and social strategies. When they can’t complete this stage effectively, it
leads to role confusion (Erikson, 1956).
Simply, role confusion can be considered to be a lack of a solid identity. A person with
role confusion may feel unsure about themselves and how they fit in society. Not
knowing who they are meant to be or what they really want in life, they may struggle
to settle into a career path or have healthy relationships. These experiences may lower
their self-esteem and fulfillment in life.
Identity vs. role confusion example
Let’s assume a person comes of age in an environment where they are forced to fit in
traditional gender roles. They may not be allowed to test behaviors or career paths
often attributed to the opposite gender. As a result, this person might experience role
confusion if they struggle to fit the norms imposed upon them.
Identity vs. Personality vs. Character
Many people use the term identity interchangeably with other terms such as character
and personality. Although these three concepts sound similar, they are distinct from
each other, and here is how you can set them apart.

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Identity includes a person’s qualities that they have little or no control over, such as
their family background, skin color, or height. It also includes their belief systems,
ethics, morals, and values. In contrast, personality typically encompasses dispositional
qualities such as extraversion, temperament, optimism, and conscientiousness, among
others. In other words, your identity describes who you are and what you stand for,
whereas your personality guides your behaviors.
Character is similar to personality in that it is used to describe a person’s behaviors.
The key difference between personality and character is that individuals' personalities
are more visible in their day-to-day actions. In contrast, character traits typically reflect
situation-specific behavioral tendencies, such as when forced to make high-stakes
decisions. For instance, your personality would determine how you interact with your
coworkers in your daily interactions. In contrast, your character is more likely to be
revealed in how you react to distinct circumstances, such as when you witness
workplace discrimination or overhear your supervisor’s phone conversation in which
he details his tax evasion scheme.
Another difference between personality and character is that a person’s character is
more malleable than their personality. Furthermore, the changes in characters might
reflect changes in identity, such as due to the transformation of their belief systems
and values. For instance, a person may not be able to change their level of extraversion
much. Yet, they can value truth more as they get older and become much more honest
over time.
Types of Identity
We have already discussed that identity encompasses various traits that we are born
with and thoughts, beliefs, and values we acquire from our surroundings. Here are
some common types of identity and their brief descriptions.
Racial identity refers to a person’s sense of belonging to a racial group, such as Asian-
American, white, etc. This identity trait remains constant throughout a person’s life.
Ethnic identity indicates a person’s affiliation with a specific ethnic group, such as
Japanese, Malaysian, etc.
Geographical identity is the identity that indicates the local affiliation of a person. For
instance, a person living in the United States may identify as a Mid-westerner,
Southerner, New Yorker, Texan, etc.
Sexual orientation is an identity trait that indicates the sexual preference of an
individual, such as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, asexual, etc.
Family identity is made up of all the roles a person plays in their family life. Typically, a
person has a primary role (i.e., daughter) despite having multiple functions at a given
time (such as daughter, sister, granddaughter, cousin). Yet, these roles, and thus a
person’s primary family identity, can change over time as new functions are added to
their repertoire (such as wife, mother, aunt, mother-in-law, grandmother, etc.).

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Ability is a form of identity that reflects an individual’s ability/disability status. Non-
disabled individuals may not feel the implications of this form of identity as much as
persons with disabilities.
Body identity stems from a person’s body shape and size. Although some traits remain
constant over time (i.e., height), others may fluctuate (i.e., weight, body shape, etc.)
Generational identity is also referred to as age identity. It reflects a person’s affiliation
with an age group, such as child, adolescent, elderly, among others.
The religious identity of a person reflects their spiritual belief system. People may be
born to families that practice a specific religion. Yet, sometimes individuals adopt a
different religious identity as they get older or become more or less religious.
Class identity of an individual reflects the social stratum they belong to, such as
middle-class, upper-middle-class, etc. A person may not notice their class identity until
they interact with someone from another social class.
Educational identity depends on the level of education a person has or the types of
schools they have attended. Examples include ivy-league educated, high-school drop-
out, private school student, public school graduate, among others.
Career identity forms when a person selects a career path and may evolve with the
changes to the person’s job titles and responsibilities. Some examples are doctor,
scientist, teacher, superintendent, CEO, artist, miner, etc.
Although the identities in this list are common, they aren’t the only ones we come
across. Some identities are related to or encompass multiple types of identity or are
frequently debated in our society. Let’s discuss some of them.
Gender Identity
Gender identity indicates which gender group a person belongs to, such as masculine,
feminine or non-binary, and along with sexual orientation, it might be one of the most
debated types of identity in our society. Most people equate gender and sex, and
controversies arise when people identify with a gender that doesn’t match their
biological sex assigned at birth. To understand this debate, let’s consider these
concepts.
Gender is a social construct and includes its groups' behavior patterns and societal
expectations. In contrast, sex is a biological concept and depends on the chromosomes
of individuals and other genetic factors. If the gender identity of a person matches
their sex (i.e., masculine and male), they are referred to as cisgender. If the gender
identity and sex don’t match, these individuals might identify themselves as
transgender, gender-fluid, queer, or non-binary.
Generally, individuals are born with two sex chromosomes, XX for biological females
and XY for biological males. Yet, sex is not always as straightforward as many people
think. For instance, individuals with Turner’s syndrome have only one X chromosome,

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as their second sex chromosome is missing (Heard & Turner, 2011). Although these
individuals have female-like characteristics, their reproductive organs don’t develop
properly without hormone therapy, and they are typically unable to conceive.
Biological sex becomes even more confusing when considering individuals with
androgen insensitivity syndrome. These individuals have XY chromosomes, which
means that they are biological males. However, a mutation in a receptor protein
essential for detecting male hormones in the body renders these individuals partially
or fully insensitive to male hormones (Mongan et al., 2015).
Individuals whose mutation causes them to be entirely insensitive to male hormones
appear female at birth and develop female bodies later in life, despite their XY makeup
(Mongan et al., 2015). Many of these individuals are raised as females and don’t find
out for many years that they are indeed biological males. In contrast, individuals who
are partially insensitive to male hormones may appear as females at birth but may
develop a mixture of male and female characteristics during adolescence (Mongan et
al., 2015). Again, these children and their parents may be unaware of this condition
until adolescence.
In short, biological sex isn’t as clear-cut as which genitals are present at birth, and this
type of identification may be misleading at times. Moreover, because gender is a social
construct, a person’s gender identity doesn’t always match their apparent biological
sex. If you’d like to find out more, here is a brief video that explains the difference
between gender identity and sex assigned at birth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y19kYh6k7ls
Socioeconomic Identity
This type of identity includes parts of education, career, and class identities, as it
depends on a person’s income and occupation, which typically reflect their level of
education. Generally, socioeconomic identity is an indicator of social status, economic
welfare, and prestige.
Many people may remain in the same socioeconomic class throughout their lives.
However, socioeconomic identity is relatively more dynamic than some other
identities, such as race, and people may move from one socioeconomic identity to
another over time. For example, a child born to blue-collar, high-school dropout
parents may be the first one in her family to finish college and later become an upper-
middle-class executive.
Cultural Identity
Culture can be defined as the traditional set of beliefs and behaviors shared by the
members of a group. Many of our identities involve a group with a shared culture.
Therefore, our cultural identities encompass multiple identity traits, such as our ethnic,
racial, religious, generational, and geographical identities. For instance, members of an
ethnic group may have their unique traditions. Similarly, members of a religion may

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share values centered around their faith. Moreover, people who live in the same
geographical area may have a regional accent and a shared history that influences
their culture and therefore their identity.
Humans are inherently social beings, and belonging to a group is essential for most
people. Cultural identity is an integral part of fitting in and feeling a sense of belonging
to a group we are associated with. In addition, it influences our outlook and how we
interpret the world around us, which may differ from other cultures. For instance, a
good or friendly behavior in one culture may be perceived as unacceptable or rude in
another.
Since each culture has its norms and standards, conflicts may arise when people from
multiple cultures insist that their way of doing something is the correct way. Lately,
another arena where we observe a similar phenomenon is with our political identities,
which we will cover next.
Political Identity
In simple terms, politics can be defined as the collective decision-making regarding the
governance of a group of people. In a democracy-based political system, individuals
vote for the candidates they support in regularly-held elections.
Voting in elections is typically seen as a right, a privilege, and a civic duty. But how we
vote in elections may reveal a lot about us, our values, and our priorities. In other
words, the way we vote has a lot to do with our political identities.
The political identity of an individual refers to their political inclinations and
affiliations. People who strongly identify with one political party may choose to only
vote for that party's candidates, regardless of their character and qualifications.
Moreover, the political identities of individuals may influence their attitudes, beliefs,
and decisions beyond the voting booth (Collins, Mandel & Schywiola, 2021). This
carryover effect of political identity has been associated with the politicization of
previously neutral issues, such as school curricula or wearing face masks and social
distancing during a respiratory pandemic, as well as vaccines.
What Is an Identity Crisis?
A person's identity can gradually shift and change due to nuances in their
circumstances and environment. Yet, there are times that an individual may feel lost as
if everything they believed about themselves is suddenly gone. Hence, we call periods
of intensive analysis and inward exploration of a person’s sense of self an identity crisis
(Schmeck et al., 2013).
Searching for identity is natural during adolescence and later from time to time. Most
of these searches of self and purpose build upon and fine-tune a person’s existing
identity. However, an identity crisis occurs when an individual experiences situations
that completely destabilize their notions of self. Some of these experiences may be
traumatic events such as losing a loved one, diagnosis of a disease, or a heartbreaking

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divorce. They may also be other events that change us in other ways, such as
becoming a parent, aging, switching career paths, or moving to an unfamiliar area. For
instance, a condition known as the midlife crisis is a form of identity crisis triggered by
the sense of aging.
An identity crisis is an effort to redefine the sense of self. Although some people can
navigate these periods with relative ease, others may struggle for a long time. An
identity crisis may become a problem if the person feels empty, worthless, or starts
harboring feelings of self-loathing. It may even interfere with a person’s daily life.
But how can you cope with an identity crisis? The first step is acknowledging why you
are feeling this way. This acceptance may allow the inward search for new meanings
and purposes in your life. Sharing your feelings with people you trust might also help
you with additional insight. If you have negative notions about yourself, feel depressed
or unsupported by the people around you, please try talking to a trusted mental health
practitioner.
What Is Identity Diffusion?
A condition that is sometimes confused with an identity crisis is identity diffusion. Yet,
unlike identity crisis, this condition means that the individual hasn’t committed to an
identity yet and isn’t working toward forming one.
According to James Marcia, identity diffusion is one of the phases of identity formation
during adolescence (Marcia, 1980). Individuals going through identity diffusion may
have difficulty solidifying their sense of identity and purpose. Moreover, due to their
lack of commitment, they may appear unmotivated or withdrawn (Schmeck et al.,
2013). They may also hesitate to make decisions for themselves or state any opinions.
For instance, when asked about which music genre they like, a person with identity
diffusion might answer that they don’t know much about music and listen to whatever
is playing on the radio. Similarly, when inquired about what subject they like or what
career path appeals to them, they might say that they haven’t thought about it yet.
Although identity diffusion is typically observed while growing up and isn’t a life-long
phase, it may persist into adulthood in some individuals. This persistence might result
from the psychological distress these individuals feel due to rapidly changing life
conditions that are out of their control (Carlsson, Wangqvist & Frisen, 2016). Again, if
you or a loved one is struggling with identity diffusion, you might want to consider
talking to a mental health professional to help establish a stronger sense of self.
A solid sense of identity means that you know who you are, what you value, and how
you see yourself in society. There are many components of our identities, such as
religious, political, and gender, among others, and knowing yourself fully is essential to
feel integrated into society.
References

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Carlsson, Johanna, Maria Wängqvist, and Ann Frisèn. “Life on Hold: Staying in Identity
Diffusion in the Late Twenties.” Journal of Adolescence, vol. 47, 2016, pp. 220-229.
Collins, R. N., Mandel, D. R., & Schywiola, S. S. (2021). Political identity over personal
impact: Early US reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 555.
Erikson, E. H. (1956). The problem of ego identity. Journal of the American
Psychoanalytic Association, 4, 56–121.
Heard, E., & Turner, J. (2011). Function of the sex chromosomes in mammalian fertility.
Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology, 3(10), a002675.
Marcia, James. “Identity in Adolescence.” Handbook of Adolescent Psychology, edited
by Joseph Adelson, Wiley, 1980, pp. 159-187.
Mongan, N. P., Tadokoro-Cuccaro, R., Bunch, T., & Hughes, I. A. (2015). Androgen
insensitivity syndrome. Best practice & research Clinical endocrinology & metabolism,
29(4), 569-580.
Schmeck, K., Schlüter-Müller, S., Foelsch, P. A., & Doering, S. (2013). The role of
identity in the DSM-5 classification of personality disorders. Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry and Mental Health, 7(1), 1-11.
Reading comprehension activities:
1) Decide if the following statements are True or False. Underline or highlight the
sentence that justifies your answer and indicate which statement it justifies.

a) Identity has continuity even when circumstances change. T / F

b) Adults are more likely to experience big changes to their identities than
teenagers. T / F
c) According to Erikson (1956), individuals form their identities by means of
observation. T / F
d) The terms identity, personality and character are similar to each other. T / F
e) Generational Identity is the same as age identity. T / F
f) The types of identity mentioned in the text aren’t the only types that exist. T / F
g) Biological sex is easy to determine. T / F
h) Socioeconomic identity is more prone to changing than the other types. T / F
i) Cultural norms and standards and political identity are free from conflict. T / F
j) Identity Crises usually take place when a person goes through an event that
comes into conflict with their notions of self. T / F
k) Rapidly changing life conditions, when they escape a person’s control, are likely
to be the result of the persistence of identity diffusion. T / F

2) Classify the highlighted words in the text according to their function in the text.
Use the following chart.

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VERB NOUN ADJECTIVE ADVERB
REASSESS
CAREGIVERS
TRANSITION
SET OUT TO
SELF-ESTEEM
FULFILMENT
CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
EQUATE
CLEAR-CUT
WELFARE
BLUE-COLLAR
ENCOMPASS
TRAITS
NUANCES
FINE-TUNE
SELF-LOATHING
HARBOURING
WITHDRAWN
LIFE-LONG
DISTRESS

3) Make vocabulary mind maps for the following categories.

 Traits
 Stages of life
 Identity

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GRAMMAR
1) Go over the text in the previous section and find:

a) a verb in the present

b) a verb expressing future
c) a verb expressing past
d) a past participle
e) an instruction
f) a verb in the passive voice
g) a transitive verb
h) an intransitive verb
i) an infinitive verb
j) a present participle
k) a gerund
Make sure you provide the complete sentence where you have found the example.
Answer the following questions with your own words and thoughts. If you don’t
know an answer, don’t google it.
1) What is a verb?
2) What’s the difference between a finite verb and a non-finite verb?
3) What are the different areas of a finite verb that we can analyse (e.g. tense)?
4) What types of verbs do you know?
5) What is number? And subject-verb agreement?
6) How many tenses are there in the English language?
7) What’s the subjunctive mood?
8) What’s passive voice?
9) What is a modal verb? Find examples of statements including modal verbs.
What are they expressing?
Complete the following charts (see following pages)

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