Introduction to concept of identity

1. +
IDENTITY
What do we mean by identity?

2. +
If identity is about answering this question it
might easily be confused for personality.
Personality traits are universal but your
personality is a combination of these traits that
is unique to you
Who am I?

3. + But identity is more than just our
personality
Although personality traits form part of our
identity, our identity is also shaped by
things outside of our control e.g. our
gender, our ethnicity, where we come
from, our social class, our nationality etc.
Some aspects of our identity are also
within our control i.e. we have choice over
them

4. +

5. +
When you meet someone for the
first time.
What questions would you ask
them?
 Where are you from?
 What do you do?
 What team do you support?
 What music do you listen to?
 What school did you go to?

6. +  When we do this we are trying to find out what
things we have in common with them.
 Which aspects of our identity are the same as
each other.
 We are also trying to
find out what makes
them different from us.
 Identity is marked out
by similarities and
differences which we
share with other
people.

7. +
Identity involves what I think about
myself
But it also involves how others see
me

8. + These two things do not always
match up!
For example I might
see myself as being
really good at my job
and that my boss
should really promote
me.
But my boss
might have a
different view of
things!

9. +
Think about some aspects of your
own identity
Then think about ways that others
might see you

10. +We often have multiple identities
For example one woman might
Be:
• A Mother
• An employee
• A cook
• A member of a religion
• A friend
• A partner
• A sister
• A student
• A Dubliner

11. +
There is also your potential future
identity and your past identity
• Think about which aspects of your identity are
the same now as when you were seven years
old?
• What things about you are different?
• Which past experiences have impacted on your
identity?
• Are you still the same person?

12. + Your future identity includes:
Your wishes and hopes for the future
This can sometimes be limited or impacted by factors
such as:
 Physical constraints- Being too far away to do a
particular college course
 Financial constraints- Not being able to afford to study
or pay for a course
 Social Pressure – E.g. ‘My mates are all working
locally and want me to do the same’
 Influence of others- E.g. ‘My father wants me to join
the family business.’

13. + There are also aspects of our
identity that are defined by who you
are genetically and where you were
born.
 For example:
 Eye colour
 Skin colour
 Ethnicity
These things are more difficult to
choose or change!

14. +
Some questions to consider as you
do the activities in this unit:
How are identities formed?
Are identities fixed or can they change
over time?
How much control do you have over your
own identity?
How much of your identity do you share
with others and how much is unique to
you?