Societal Influence and Identity Formation

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From birth and during the whole life every person tries to develop an individual set of values which is common only for this particular person. There are significant number of reasons and things helping to develop the appropriate sense of identity on the part of people. Some of them influence this process positively, and others have the negative impact on identity formation of people in the modern society. A remarkable role in the process of identity formation is attached to the society, such as media, family and peers, the so-called every-day environment of people.

But people should understand that the identity formation is within the person and nobody can distract people from this goal. This essay will focus on the relations between identity formation and societal influence on this current and long process. Types of societal influence on people’s identity are numerous. First, the important role on this process is attached to media and television. Due to the process of globalization and international integration the majority of people cannot simply imagine their life without television, computers, Internet and media in general. Children especially are addicted with different types of media.

As a rule, the human identity is formed among people while becoming older, and the stage of adolescence is characterized by the constant identity formation. This process is impacted enormously not only by the media, but also by the Internet, as nowadays people can find everything there, every type of information and facts. So, the process of identity formation became more complex and difficult for people due to the implementation of such newer and innovative technologies and strategies. Postman and Powers stated that “when a television news...

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...f every person during the whole life. Societal influence is very important in this case, as not only family and peers can help to form people’s identity, but also media and Internet. Stereotypes are also common issues nowadays, increasingly trying to adjust to models and opinions of people around them. The main thing is to remember that every person is individual and the identity formation is within every individual. It is impossible to fit in common stereotypes without personal point of view and attitude to these issues.

Works Cited

Chung, Olivia. “Finding My Eye-Identity.” Pop Perspectives Readings to Critique Contemporary Culture. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008: 149. Print.

Postman, Neil, and Steve Powers. “The Bias of Language, The Bias of Pictures.” Pop Perspectives Readings to Critique Contemporary Culture. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008: 481. Print.

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