Sociological Accounts on Individuals Acquiring Their Identities

Sociological Accounts on Individuals Acquiring Their Identities

The concept of identity has been defined as 'A sense of self that

develops as the child differentiates from parents and family and takes

a place in society' (Jary and Jary, 1991.) Through the process of

socialization, individuals acquire their identities, but this issue

cause different understandings according to sociological accounts.

Here, I will show these accounts, and make an analysis understood by

me.

The definition refers to the sense that some one has or who they are,

of what is most important about them. Important sources of identities

are likely to include nationality, ethnicity, sexuality (homosexual,

heterosexual, bisexual), gender and class. (Collins Haralambos and

Holborn, , chapter 12, p 885)

The main sociological accounts on this issue are: Functionalism,

Symbolic Interactionism, Marxism, Feminism and Giddens' concept of

structuration.

Functionalism

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Functionalism is too deterministic. It emphasizes the roles and

identities to relatively passive human are shaped by the needs of the

social system. It tends to see all the identities as passive

identities (e.g., class identity) and give no choice to individuals

about how they behave.

Functionalism has a conservative view despite of social change. It

neglect the impose roles in society, which force people to do what

they do not want to do. They will not always bear the impose roles on

themselves and social system.

Additionally, the conflicts between different groups of people exist

in society, but functionalism seems to not see it....

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...ll as men?

Giddens' conception of structuration

The two approaches-structuralism and social action can be brought

closer together by using Giddens' theory. He sees structures make

social action possible, but social actions create the structures. The

human behaviour may create the social structure, and then it

influences the identity forming.

The questions are if people have the power as Gidden said? He may

exadderate the ability of people as individuals to change the society

and social system. Should he need to think of the degree of human

behaviour liberty?

Above all, the sociological accounts show different view on

individuals acquiring their identities through the process of

socialization. Some are in the right, but some are not. We should

evaluate them from different aspects as a wide point of view.