Social Groups And Their Impact On Personal Identity

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As an individual, it is human nature to identify with social groups to determine personal identity, influenced by how we view ourselves as we change. Normally, when groups form and come to an agreeable interest, each individual within those groups identify with said interest as it becomes salient. This perception often causes individuals to reject other interests and possibly discriminate against others. Within this essay, discussed is the impact on our self-identities as they are influenced and fashioned by group memberships.
As defined, social identity theory proposes that our social identities describe to us who we are, provide us with information about how to behave, and tell us how we should evaluate other people (Rohall, 2016, p. 143). As people connect with groups, personal behaviors begin to impact the sense of self. One may identify with specific aspects of that group without realizing. The person will begin to exhibit certain behaviors and changes which were psychologically implanted by social settings. Humans adapt to their settings; groups provide settings in which people identify with, guiding them to adapt to these new beliefs and behaviors as their own personal norm. …show more content…

Our behaviors are observed by others. Others may not concur with these beliefs or behaviors causing them to react in ways disagreeable to the observed individual. Unfortunately, this can cause conflict in one's environment impacting both parties in unenthusiastic ways, particularly because ‘the theory argues that people define themselves, in part, by their group memberships (Rohall, 2016, p. 143)’. In contrast, they can affect additional people in positive ways such as presenting ideas and actions in manners which appear inviting to

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