There is profound concern among a wide range of psychologist, philosophers and sociology scholar
about how we establish our identification with the social groups that we define ourselves over the
whole human history. Surely when people become fused with a group, the relationship with it plays
an important role on a person’s growth. Whereas personal identities refer to properties of the
individual such as intelligent or extravert, group identities refer to the group with which
individuals align themselves, such as American, Democrat, or family member.
The statement concludes that it is primarily through our identification with social groups that
we define ourselves with which I partly agree. However, a person’s personal and social identities
should become functionally equivalent. A quick reflection on a typical personal growth reveals
how social identifies and self-identification merge with each other. A child communicates with
their parents to learn how to be a good kid under their guide. In the adolescence, chances are
high that teenage will mimics his or her idol’s behavior and try to find out what kind of person
he want to be. When the kids become a adult, they seek verification of collective identities,
personal identities associated with group member, by choosing their own career and interest club.
From this perspective, the need for affiliation with a group may be an outgrowth of desire to
communicate, and receive verification for, their individual identities.
For Some people, who may feel one or fused with a group, the self-other barrier is blurred and
the group come to be regarded as functionally equivalent with the personal self. Instances of
fusion are particularly common among members of relational groups, wherein group members have
extremely close personal relationship with one another, such as family members, close friends,
etc. With the social development, different culture also cultivates unique character in one’s
personality. Japanese, as a mere nation state, owns extremely high national consciousness and
fusion which represents a distinctive form of allegiance to groups
Although both personal and group identities are integral aspects of the larger self-system, most
people still draw a sharp distinction between the two. In fact, just as a physical barrier, the
skin, separates people’s bodies from the external world, a psychological divide separates their
personal identities from the identities of others. Yes, the society fosters part of our
identification with no doubt. But the essence of human identity lies in this continuing
self-redefinition. Our identity lies in the intersection between our impersonal but unique bodies
and our personal individual memories. In the book, Sophie’s World, the hero claims that though
these gingerbread men came from the same mold, they were never all exactly the same. If the
statement was through, can we draw to a conclusion that the twine who born in the same family,
went to the same college, took the same job, are two same people? Gautama Buddha, an elected
chief of his clan, certainly didn’t accept the identification based on his group, even he born
as a prince.
The human identification is also in the process f being irrevocably changed by technological
advances and political improvement which either have been achieved or are in the pipeline. By
increasing our reliance on technology and social reform, impossible goals can now be achieved.
For example, before 19th century, there was a negative stereotypes about women that woman’s
place are naturally in the home. Activist Emmeline Pankhurst, and many other suffragists,
didn’t define themselves under social group that deny women’s right. And nowadays, we are
increasingly spending more time on social networking sites. Communicating with people we never
meet become an integral part of the way we interact. How the internet, facebook, instagram are
going to shape our social landscape when we can establish our virtual identity?
We never stop to seek to develop a deeper understanding of the interplay of the personal and
social self. Even when people become deeply aligned with a group, their personal identities
remain potent. Clearly, both personal and social identities are important and influential. The
issue, therefore, is not to determine which form of identity is bigger. Rather, the critical
issue is to identify the personal and situational factors that determine how two types of
identities interactively guide behavior.