IDENTITY FORMATION

Your identity can be described as the way that you define yourself. The meaning that you attach to
yourself, essentially the answer to the question; Who am I?

Identity formation takes place throughout your life. As you go through the various stages of life your
identity forms and changes, you take on new rolls in life, school child, teenager, university student,
wife/husband, mother/father, grandmother/grandfather etc. It is not something you consciously think
about or are even aware of. What is clear though is that each person develops their own distinct
identity.

Apart from your actual self-image there is also an ideal-image that represents what you would like to be.
How you would ideally like to look and behave, your favourite movie start or you’re a person who you
admire. Sometimes we mimic these people we try to speak the way our favourite celebrity does or sing
the way our favourite singer does. This is why some peer groups all dress the same. I’m sure you have
noticed it or even remember doing it? Think back to your high school days, probably most notably grade
7 - 10 think about your friends at the time. When you all went out to a party or an even, and you had to
have a particular pair of shoes because ‘everyone’ wears them. All of this plays a part in the way that
you develop and form your identity.

Read through the section of the book on GENDER-ROLE IDENTITY

(NOTE: All individuals possess a gender identity and the process of becoming aware of it is an important
part of the psychosocial development of a child) (Gouws 2016)

ETHNIC IDENTITY

This is a very touchy subject in South Africa now. During adolescence, we become aware of the cultural
differences which includes different values and customs between ethnic groups. It is often at this stage
that young people revel strongly against perceived injustice against their cultural groups. Adolescents in
minority groups face great challenges during this time because they encounter conflict between their
culture and the dominant culture. In South Africa, this is of particular importance especially since to a
large degree the dominant culture is the minority culture. Hence the recent calls for ‘decolonisation’
and ‘radical transformation’. South Africa is rather unique in this sense, we are a ‘Rainbow nation’ so as
teachers we need to be sure to take all our students into consideration in a multicultural perspective
that way we cater for all ethnic groups since they all have a steak in our wonderful country. Teachers
should help adolescents to acquire a positive ethnic identity.

IDENTITY DIFFUSION

When we are small children our parents do most things for us, including making the big decisions. For
example, what time we go to bed, what we eat, what school we go do, what friends we go and play at
etc. However there comes a point in our lives where we start taking responsibility for choosing these
things for ourselves. Some parents allow their children to gradually start taking responsibility by guiding
their choices and assisting. Other parents struggle to let go and end up hanging onto the reigns for too
long. In the same way some children are more comfortable making these decisions for themselves an
even push to be allowed to make choices, where others may hang onto the apron strings with both
hands. Adolescents need to make this shift to making their own choices and having confidence in the
decisions they make.

Adolescents generally go through a period of uncertainty in their choices and in their ‘place’ in the
world. They do not always have the answers to questions like ‘Who am I, to what group do I belong, or
what do I want to achieve in life’ this dilemma is all part of identity formation. Everyone has their own
unique identity or set of identities that make up one identity: Gender-role identity, Career identity,
Ethnic identity. So what then is identity diffusion?

Identity diffusion is what happens when an adolescent is unable to make the choices needed to
determine who and what they are. The conflict between identity acquisition and identity diffusion has
not been resolved. These are adolescents who have not had the time nor the exposure to experiment
with social roles, they are confused and often jump from one identity to the next trying to find
themselves, they are easily influenced by others and can end up anxious, apathetic and hostile and can
lead to the formation of a negative identity. These adolescents lack self-confidence and so lash out at
rules or values. Helicopter parents (parents who hover and cannot let go), authoritarian parents and
parents who have unrealistically high standards often find themselves with rebellious adolescents who
suffer from identity diffusion.

Erikson distinguishes 4 main manifestations of identity diffusion: Look on page 110 of Gouws.

Do you know anyone who has struggled to ‘find’ themselves?

One of my daughters has a friend who has gone from one ‘phase’ to the next, she’s been Emo
(Emotional Hardcore), Hippy, preppy, vegan and is currently alternative, she simply seems to be unable
to commit to a single identity. This is identity diffusion, it makes her very difficult to be around for
extended periods of time and it means that she flits from one social group to another. Her personality is
largely determined by the group of people she associates with at any given time. Adolescents who have
not yet resolved the crisis can be intolerant, and often unable to complete tasks since they struggle to
make personal commitments and decisions. They do not have a clear view of the future and do not deal
well with new realities or conflicts.

Marcia defines two dimensions of identity as important, exploration and commitment. Exploration
involves the exploration of options followed by a commitment to specific path, the making of a decision
and a personal investment.

I have placed a smaller version of table 4.3 in Gouws (2015:110) Reflect on these tables. Do you know
anyone who is struggling with Identity diffusion or perhaps you did are still are.

1. List the teacher’s role in the identity formation of the adolescent: Gouws
(2015:110) lists four, can you give examples for each case?
2. Define the following:
1. Identity Diffusion
2. Identity foreclosure
3. Identity moratorium
4. Identy achievement