How Do Individuals Construct An Individual's Identity?

The introduction of social media and the internet into the world of socialisation has created a new avenue for sociological study. This assignment will explore the ways in which individuals construct identities and relationships within the online sphere and how this construction can be associated with traditional sociological theory. The effect of online identities and relationships will also be discussed in relation to their impact on the offline, using studies to illustrate the fundamental differences between the two and the potential consequences. Ultimately, it will be concluded that social networks do alter the ways in which people construct and perform their identities and relationships online, but this also has a potential to impact
It is also thought that the way individuals construct and perform their identities is related to emitting a certain impression of themselves to others. Goffman (1959) in particular notes the idea of multiple identities related to different roles. For example, one will exhibit their personal identity when surrounded by family and their professional identity when surrounded by work colleagues. It is further noted that, when an individual interacts with others, they aim to guide others towards a positive impression of themselves. The self, in Goffman’s (1959) dramaturgical theory, is characterised by the individuals’ performance of a specific role. They are able to choose what to present and how they are perceived by others, rather than identity being an innate characteristic.
Similarly, the work of Tajifel and Turner (1986) suggests that individuals conduct themselves in ways which maintain their self-esteem and positive self-concept (Tajifel and Turner, 1986). Social identity theory understands identity and the self as being related to one’s social identity- the inclusion into certain social groups. The inclusion into societal groups reaffirms one’s self-esteem, pride and self-image. Social identity theory largely relates to Goffman’s (1959) dramaturgical theory; the performance of the self in front of others is to be perceived positively and accepted
Ellison (2013) highlights that, online, individuals have far more control over what they present to others as identity cues such as gender and age are easily masked. This suggests that pretending to be someone you are not is far easier online than in person, and highlights the fine line between selective self-presentation and deception. Catfish: The TV Show (2012) illustrates how social media fundamentally alters the way in which people construct their identities, for the purpose of deception. The programme follows Nev Schulman and Max Joseph in assisting online couples meeting face to face, specifically helping people who are suspicious of their partner’s true identity. More often than not, the story concludes with the discovery that one or both of them has been deceptive about their true identity. Often, the deceptive partner hid their offline identity when online due to feelings of inadequacy or low self-esteem- showing how current sociological theory can be applied to the construction of the online self. The series shows the prevalence of deception facilitated by social media, and how it enables individuals to construct identities very different from their true selves. It is thought that the online environment facilitates disinhibition, and makes individuals more likely to be deceptive about or hide