This document discusses two perspectives on identity and how it relates to culture and body image. The first view is that identity is shaped by the cultural and social forces one is exposed to, while the second sees identity as something that individuals construct for themselves by choosing from various cultural influences and changing over time. Neither view is considered completely right or wrong. The document then discusses various components of identity including relationships, career, beliefs and self-concept. It analyzes the development of self-awareness from infancy through adulthood.

1. RelationshipsRelationships
andand
Body ImageBody Image
Identity and self

2. Consider these two points of view –Consider these two points of view –
which approach do you find yourself inwhich approach do you find yourself in
most agreement with?most agreement with?
 “I am who I am because of the time and place I was
born and the culture I was raised in. My family gave me
a set of values and so has my town, my religion, my
community and my country. Add these all up and
that’s who I am”
 “I have got an identity – at least my friends seem to
think so, but I’m not really sure who I am. I know that
I’m more like some people than others, but this
changes as I try out new identities. I don’t really want
to take on an identity if it means I can’t be different
when I want to be”

3. First ApproachFirst Approach
“I am who I am because of the time and place I
was born and the culture I was raised in. My
family gave me a set of values and so has my
town, my religion, my community and my
country. Add these all up and that’s who I am”
This view sees identity as a product of culture –
we are fashioned by social and cultural forces
together with a sort of genetic blueprint which
moulds us into the individuals we are.

4. Second ApproachSecond Approach
 “I have got an identity – at least my friends seem to
think so, but I’m not really sure who I am. I know that
I’m more like some people than others, but this
changes as I try out new identities. I don’t really want
to take on an identity if it means I can’t be different
when I want to be”
 This view has a different take on the relationship
between culture and the individual. Here, culture
provides a set of resources which we are free to use in
the construction of our own identity. Rather than
being fixed into place by powerful forces, identity is
more like a butterfly.

5. The DebateThe Debate
Neither is right or wrong
They represent two sides of a debate
over the nature of identity

6. Components of IdentityComponents of Identity
Career
Political views
Religious beliefs
Relationships
Ethnic identity
Personality
Body image

7. SELFSELF
All the Characteristics of the Person
Self-concept: everything the person believes to be
true about him/herself
Includes traits, preferences, social roles, values,
beliefs, interests, self-categorization
Self-understanding develops throughout the
lifespan

8. Self-Awareness in InfancySelf-Awareness in Infancy
Dot-of-rouge experiment
Recognize selves in mirror at 15-18
months
15-23 months
◦ Personal pronoun use
◦ Picture recognition
◦ Self-referencing, ownership, self-monitoring

9. Self in Early ChildhoodSelf in Early Childhood
Confusion of self, mind, and body
Concrete descriptions
Physical descriptions
Activities – what they do
Overestimation of abilities

10. Self – Middle & Late ChildhoodSelf – Middle & Late Childhood
Shift to internal traits and abilities
Social role descriptions
Real and ideal selves
More realistic about abilities

11. Perspective TakingPerspective Taking
Opposite of egocentrism – the ability to
assume another’s perspective
Children who are good at this are
popular
Development progresses through stages
(Selman)

12. Self in AdolescenceSelf in Adolescence
Abstract-idealistic
Self-conscious/ preoccupied
Contradictions within self
Fluctuating picture across time/situations
Possible selves
Self-integrations as they get older

13. Self in AdulthoodSelf in Adulthood
Self-awareness (emotional intelligence)
◦ Accept own good and bad qualities
Possible selves become more realistic
Life review – evaluation of successes &
failures; more likely as you get older

14. Self-ConceptSelf-Concept
This is the idea we have of ourselves as
individuals
Consists of 3 elements
- SELF IMAGE
- IDEAL SELF
- SELF-ESTEEM

15. The Ideal SelfThe Ideal Self
An easier concept in theory
that is in in practice
Trying to probe the Ideal Self in any kind of
public context results in gatekeeping: we
filter out information that could cause negative
perceptions
Usually get role models and the ideal self
confused