Are we born with an identity?

Our identity says something about who we are. We are all unique, so our identities are different. Can we change our identity, or will our identity remain the same throughout our life?

Accessibility icon Are we born with an identity?

What is identity?

Identity develops over time, and you are not born with a certain identity. We can change our identity over time. 

Personal identity is about who we are and who we want to be. Everyone has their own identity, and we are all unique and not the same as everyone else.

En ung mann som ser mot oss med lue og ring i leppa.
En ung mann som ser mot oss med lue og ring i leppa.

Group identity

Group identity is about having something in common with others. This varies from group to group. 

A group identity could be “women” or “Norwegians”. Perhaps it is “we who love football”, “we who play in the band” or “Muslims”. A group identity helps you feel like you belong to something bigger. It can be both positive and negative.

People are social and want to be together with others. It can be both positive and negative to feel connected to other people. 

Group belonging can be bad if it is a group with bad interests (extremism, racism or crime) or dangerous ideas (self-harm, suicide, drugs).

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Skolekorps i stor klynge med instrumentene hevet over hodet.
Skolekorps i stor klynge med instrumentene hevet over hodet.

Roles and expectations

A role is what is expected from you, and how you should behave in different situations., for example, at home, in the classroom, at work, or with friends.

It is not always easy to meet expectations, like if you are expected to do well at school and then don’t be able to. 

A role can also depend on your social or work position. There is a difference between if you are a child or an adult, if you work in a shop or are the prime minister.

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Undervisning i et klasserom der mange elever rekker opp hånda.
Undervisning i et klasserom der mange elever rekker opp hånda.

Roles changing over time

Situations and positions change in life. You go to school, start working, become a parent, and so on. 

It can be difficult to know how to behave in different situations. One example is if you meet different cultures with different norms or if you are talking to someone much older or younger than yourself. 

Roles can be formal or informal. Informal roles are, for example, being a daughter or a student. Examples of formal roles can be a job you have or a political position. 

Changing roles

If you don’t act the way you are expected to, it can cause anger or confusion. Not following the norms can be difficult. 

Changing roles can be difficult. If people see you in a certain way, for example, someone who causes trouble, it can be difficult to change.

Rebels against society

One example can be a child going against their parents. Another example can be the difference between what older and younger people feel is right or wrong. A third example could be that you behave in the wrong way when you are on holiday in a country with another culture.

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To tenåringsgutter plager en medelev ved en rekke med skap.
To tenåringsgutter plager en medelev ved en rekke med skap.

Role reversal

How would you behave if you took a different role?

  • You come home and act like a stranger in your own home
  • You suddenly turn 80 years old
  • You’re about to become a mother or a father
  • You change your religion
  • You become Prime Minister
  • You change your gender
Sorthvitt bilde av en far og ung sønn der sønnen er kledd som faren i dress og hatt.
Sorthvitt bilde av en far og ung sønn der sønnen er kledd som faren i dress og hatt.

Socialisation

Socialisation means that people learn how to live in a society by understanding the rules and norms. You follow the rules that most people follow. 

This means that we should be able to separate between right and wrong and between good and evil.

Consequences

If you don’t follow the rules, you can get punished, either formally through breaking the law or informally through breaking the norms. Formal punishment can be a fine or prison time. Informal punishment can be getting house arrest or being banned from a group. 

The rule is that the formal is normally written down, and norms are something that is expected in different situations.

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En mann sitter med hodet bøyd i en fengselscelle.
En mann sitter med hodet bøyd i en fengselscelle.

Breaking norms

Social deviance is when you break the norms and distance yourself from society. This can be both positive and negative. 

Negative because it can lead to crime. Positive because questioning known patterns can lead to further development of society.

En ung mann med sort hettegenser, sort skinnjakke og hanekam med striper av gult og fiolett.
En ung mann med sort hettegenser, sort skinnjakke og hanekam med striper av gult og fiolett.

Social media

Social media affects our identity. Some people seem to have a perfect life, while others give a more realistic picture. Who we really are is not always the same as who we are on social media. 

Finding your true identity is not always easy. Who you are is not always what people around you think you should be. What does it mean to be yourself, and how easy is it really?

Ung influenser med rosa hår som viser frem en gullsko foran et kamera.
Ung influenser med rosa hår som viser frem en gullsko foran et kamera.

Sources:

  • Skirbekk, Sigurd; Tjora, Aksel: sosialisering i Store norske leksikon på snl.no.
    Hentet 23. november 2021 fra https://snl.no/sosialisering

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