Identity formation One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time. --Andre Gide

Four stages of identity formation “Identity Foreclosure: The identity status of individuals who have accepted ready-made values and goals that authority figures have chosen for them. “Identity Foreclosure: The identity status of individuals who have accepted ready-made values and goals that authority figures have chosen for them. Identity Diffusion: The identity status of individuals who do not have firm commitments to values and goals and are not actively trying to reach them.” Identity Diffusion: The identity status of individuals who do not have firm commitments to values and goals and are not actively trying to reach them.” (Berk, 1997, p. 438)

Four stages of identity formation Moratorium: The identity status of individuals who are exploring alternatives in an effort to find values and goals to guide their life. Moratorium: The identity status of individuals who are exploring alternatives in an effort to find values and goals to guide their life. Identity Achievement: The identity status of individuals who have explored and committed themselves to self-chosen values and goals. Identity Achievement: The identity status of individuals who have explored and committed themselves to self-chosen values and goals. (Berk, 1997, p. 438)

Your identities Can you identify 5 identities that you possess? Can you identify 5 identities that you possess? What characterises these identities? What characterises these identities? Is there a clash of identities for you? Is there a clash of identities for you? How do you deal with these clashes? How do you deal with these clashes? What stage are your different identities at? What stage are your different identities at?

Gender messsages Please identify 7 messages and images that you have clearly perceived about your gender identity Please identify 7 messages and images that you have clearly perceived about your gender identity Please identify 7 messages and images that you have clearly perceived that do not characterise your gender identity and should have been avoided

Please rate the following slides: Very masculine Very masculine Masculine Masculine Not very masculine Not very masculine Not masculine at all Not masculine at all

Please rate the following slides: Very feminine Very feminine Feminine Feminine Not very feminine Not very feminine Not feminine Not feminine

It’s only Words or Sticks and Stones For these words – Woman, Man, Boy, Girl, Penis, Vagina, Homosexual, Bi-sexual, Heterosexual, Anglo-Celtic/Saxon, Aboriginal, Asian, For these words – Woman, Man, Boy, Girl, Penis, Vagina, Homosexual, Bi-sexual, Heterosexual, Anglo-Celtic/Saxon, Aboriginal, Asian, Identify as many words/nicknames/phrases as you can think of and Identify as many words/nicknames/phrases as you can think of and categorise them as Positive, Negative or Neutral and as Strong or Weak categorise them as Positive, Negative or Neutral and as Strong or Weak