アイデンティティ：定義、種類、例

Identity: Definition, Types, & Examples Home Books Path to Well-Being The Four Stages of Enlightenment Blog 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. *This page may include affiliate links; that means we earn from qualifying purchases of products. 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 decisions . In this article, we will define identity, discover the meaning of 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. Before reading on, if you're a therapist, coach, or wellness entrepreneur, be sure to grab our free Wellness Business Growth eBook to get expert tips and free resources that will help you grow your business exponentially. ​​​​ ​​​​​ Are You a Therapist, Coach, or Wellness Entrepreneur? Grab Our Free eBook to Learn How to Grow Your Wellness Business Exponentially! ✓ Save hundreds of hours of time ✓ Earn more $ faster ​ ✓ Boost your credibility ✓ Deliver high-impact content 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. 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: ​Identity: Definition, Types, & Examples If you prefer to learn about identity from a video, the video below summarizes this article. 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 define their identity 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 How do we define identity when compared to personality? 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. 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. Exercise: Exploring Your Identity The following exercise can help you explore different aspects of your identity. ​ In the following section, please complete the sentences stems. I believe that… * I tend to think a lot about… * I generally feel negative emotions when… * I generally feel positive emotions when… * My worst habit is… * My social relationships tend to be… * My top value is… * My best personality traits are… * Did you learn anything about yourself while doing this exercise? * 1 - Not at all 2 - A little bit 3 - Somewhat 4 - A lot 5 - Tons Note. Submitting your responses enables us to better understand human psychology. If you want to keep your responses, you'll have to save to PDF or print this page. Thanks! Submit Types of Identity What are the different 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.). 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 th