UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
Chapter 3:
FACTORS and FORCES AFFECTING
THE IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT
a. Nationality
b. Race and Ethnicity
c. Religion
d. Socio-economic status
Guide Questions:
1. How is identity affected by the following:
a. Nationality
b. Race and Ethnicity
c. Religion
d. Socio-economic states
2. Activity 3: Fill up the PERSONAL IDENTITY FACTORS SHEET
Identity is the way you define yourself and how others define you. Our identities
vary and are complex as they are shaped by various influences in society.
- Do you only have ONE identity?
- Do we all have the SAME identity?
- Can our identities CHANGE?
Identity → Diversity Different identities will lead to diversity in society.
What is Diversity? Diversity refers to differences and variety.
- Socio-cultural diversity
- Socio-economic diversity
Identity is the way YOU define YOURSELF and how others define YOU. Our
identities vary and are complex as they are shaped by various influences in
society.
Factors that shape the identities of INDIVIDUALS:
1. Nationality
2. Race and Ethnicity
3. Religion
4. Socio-Economic status (SES)
1) Nationality
• The status of being a member or citizen of a particular country.
• Having a sense of belonging to the nation
• Sharing common experiences with others of the same nationality (e.g. history,
tradition, practices, language, living spaces)
People of the same Nationality usually share:
- Common HISTORY
- Common TRADITIONS
- Common PRACTICES
- Common LANGUAGE
- Common EXPERIENCES
• Nationality is the status of being a member or citizen of a particular country.
• Having a sense of belonging to the nation
• Sharing common experiences with others of the same nationality
• People from the same country feel more comfortable with members of same
nationality
• Easier to identify with one another
8|P a g e Chapter 3: FACTORS AND FORCES
AFFECTING THE IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
• Aspects of our shared national identity would shape the individual’s identity
and actions.
• These beliefs and experiences influence a large part of our national identity.
2) Race and Ethnicity
“Race” refers to classification according to physical characteristics that are
biological in nature.
• E.g. skin colour, hair, eye colour, bone structure
“Ethnicity” refers one’s ancestry, customs, cultural practices, language, food and
dressing that are associated with an ethnic group
• E.g. practices and customs that are unique to particular country/region
Same race but different ethnicity:
- Race and ethnicity shape our identity as we belong to particular racial and/or
ethnic communities
- The practices and beliefs of these communities shape our way of life
- Diversity of race and ethnicity leads to many different customs
3) Religion
Religion is an organised collection of attitudes, beliefs, practices, world views, and
often worship of a single or multiple gods.
- Religion by birth or by choice
- Religion gives meaning to life or explains origin of life
- Religions embody a set of shared core beliefs and practices (e.g?)
• Believers keep to these beliefs and practices regardless of nationality or
ethnicity
• Shapes our identity by influencing our way of life in many ways
4) Socio-Economic Status
Socio-economic status refers to an economic situation shared by a group of
people.
• E.g. Higher SES; middle SES; lower SES.
What determines SES?
• Objective indicators e.g.: occupation, income, education, ownership of wealth,
property, housing type
Socio-economic status shapes life experience because it affects choice of housing,
food, entertainment and activities
• Influences circle of friends, social network
• Access to different activities
Government transfers to reduce income gap
• To enable social mobility, many measures put in place to support the needs of
the lower socio-economic status groups
• Healthcare and education financing:
• Meet basic needs
• Improve well-being and social mobility
“Social mobility” means that individuals can move from lower to higher levels of
income through hard work.
Reference:
1. Factors Shaping Identity, retrieved from
https://www.slideshare.net/LEEENNA/ch-4-factors-shaping-identity
9|P a g e Chapter 3: FACTORS AND FORCES
AFFECTING THE IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
Activity 3: PERSONAL IDENTITY CHART
Name: ______________________________________________________ Date: ____________
PERSONAL IDENTITY FACTORS
Other factors that
Examples
influence my identity
1. Cultures I practice
2. Language/s I speak
3. Places I live and love to visit
4. Groups I belong
5. Media I see/hear
6. Hobbies I enjoy
7. Books I read
8. Foods I eat
9. Gadgets I use
10 | P a g e Chapter 3: FACTORS AND FORCES
AFFECTING THE IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT
