Question

Think about the various aspects of your identity. If I were to ask you to make a list of 10 of the most important parts of your identity what would they be? (Religion? Ethnicity? Gender? Occupation?) How difficult is it to make this list? Why do some people find it hard while others find it easy? What did you learn about yourself?

Answer 1

1. Religion can tie a group of people together and identify them to be of a religious group whom follow the same beliefs and teachings.
2. Ethnic background or cultural beliefs
3. Values and beliefs despite what background or culture you come from can strike a common ground with people and give themselves an identity.
4. Occupation and hobbies can also define your identity because occupation and hobbies itself is a title of the type of work that you do or a hobby that you enjoy.
5. Physical attributes also play a big part of your identity. We have an image in our mind of how a person with a particular identity would look like. This is called stereotype. For example, fitness fanatics are stereotyped to be muscular, thin, toned and always wearing sport clothes.
6. Employment status also defines your identity;whether you are earning or not earning. That also develops a social status.
7. Household size is another component of identity.
8. Your choices in life also reflect your values and identity,and helps you to build as a person.
9. Family background and upbringing also determines your personal identity.
10. The role models you follow in life also reflect your identity and help to develop ypur personality.

Some people have a poor sense of identity because of low self esteem,low self-worth,lack of self awareness,low self efficacy i.e when people have low control over their lives and cant find ways to overcome their helplessness in situations they do have difficulty in listing down components about their identities.

When ones's goals are set in life,they have achieved those goals and weigh their choices in life,are clear about their decisions and what effect it would have on others then an individual is able to list down these things and many more about their identity easily.

Personal experiences and parents instilling the value of being independent in life during adolscence helps an individual to become more clear about their identity.