The Triad of Identity Formation (Module 3)

How is our Identity Formed?

    As previously mentioned, selfhood is an ongoing process that may change and improve over time because of several factors. And along the process, our identity is also formed. Identity formation is influenced by the interrelationship of society, culture, and the personality of the individual. The diagram below presents this clearly.

Figure 1. The interrelationship between Personality,
Society, and Culture in the Formation of Identity

What I learned:

• Enculturation...

    Is the acquisition of norms of a specific culture. It is basically adapting, consciously and unconsciously, all the cultural knowledge and behavior that includes the standards for morality, attitudes, perceptions towards certain things, belief systems, actions, and conduct towards specific situations. Different cultures have different influences on interpreting behaviors relative to what is valued in a particular cultural group or context. 

• Socialization... 

    Is a lifelong process that involves learning all the socially approved and culturally appropriate behaviors expected from an individual. It transforms an individual, specifically new members of the culture, into someone well-learned of the culture like an old member. It is through this factor that a human personality emerges. 

• Internalization...

    Is a conscious integration of the different cultural knowledge and behavior acquired from the culture and society through socialization into one's own sense of self or identity. Through internalization, we establish our personality or the patterns of thinking, feelings, and actions.

Reflection:

Culture will always have its part in the formation of our identity. The way we behave, think and act is shaped by our culture. We can never be separated from culture because wherever we are, we will be surrounded by cultural knowledge and behaviors. But given that we are human beings that are able to think and decide independently, we do not totally embrace the culture, rather we negotiate with culture. We actively determine, consider, accept, and alter the cultural knowledge and behavior that we consider important to us and to the formation of our identity.