Evaluate The Claim That Identity Is Determined By Relationships Essay
Evaluate the claim that identity is determined by relationships.
Introduction
The aim of this essay is to evaluate the claim that identity is determined by relationships. This will be done through descriptions of identity and relationships’ and how they are intertwined with each other to form an individual who is unique. There are many theorists who have worked extensively on theories of identity and this essay will only cover a small sample of these to evaluate the claim.
Firstly a definition of identity which (Erikson cited in Hollway 2009, p 252) defines ‘as a sense of one’s continuity over time…complemented by his conviction of the importance of change in understanding identity’. Erikson acknowledges that change is a part of our identity and as we change during our life course, our opinions and perceptions of our identities change. …show more content…
Relationships whoever they are with influence the way we live our lives in both positive and negative ways, past relationships may influence future relationships depending on their positive/negative effects and therefore form part of who we are as they are our unique experiences. Individuality, Britishness, ethnicity all have bearings on us as individuals so the evidence shows that our relationships due guide us in how we as human beings see ourselves, so who we are is defined by the various relationships we have throughout our life course, we never stop learning, adapting and changing throughout our lives to all sorts of different challenges and obstacles and this journey is what makes these experiences unique to us as an individual. Who we are is formed by experience and the relationships are the tool from which we
Introduction
The aim of this essay is to evaluate the claim that identity is determined by relationships. This will be done through descriptions of identity and relationships’ and how they are intertwined with each other to form an individual who is unique. There are many theorists who have worked extensively on theories of identity and this essay will only cover a small sample of these to evaluate the claim.
Firstly a definition of identity which (Erikson cited in Hollway 2009, p 252) defines ‘as a sense of one’s continuity over time…complemented by his conviction of the importance of change in understanding identity’. Erikson acknowledges that change is a part of our identity and as we change during our life course, our opinions and perceptions of our identities change. …show more content…
Relationships whoever they are with influence the way we live our lives in both positive and negative ways, past relationships may influence future relationships depending on their positive/negative effects and therefore form part of who we are as they are our unique experiences. Individuality, Britishness, ethnicity all have bearings on us as individuals so the evidence shows that our relationships due guide us in how we as human beings see ourselves, so who we are is defined by the various relationships we have throughout our life course, we never stop learning, adapting and changing throughout our lives to all sorts of different challenges and obstacles and this journey is what makes these experiences unique to us as an individual. Who we are is formed by experience and the relationships are the tool from which we