Prepared by Darrell G. Mullins Salisbury University Copyright © 2010, 2006 Pearson Education, inc. This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; Any rental, lease or lending of the program.

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Overview of Themes  The importance of identity  What is identity?  The individual and identity  The individual, identity, And society  Ethics And identity  Skills For communicating about identities Copyright © 2010, 2006 Pearson Education, inc.

The Importance of Identity “ Although we each possess identity characteristics, such as social class or nationality, society defines the meanings of those characteristics. Also, we cannot separate our identities—as individuals or as members of society—from our communication experiences.” I ndex Open/PhotosToGo

Identity as a Communication Concept  All individuals bring their self-identities to each communication encounter.  Communication shapes identity.  Identity impacts intercultural communication.  We are a culture of specific identity groups.  Identity is influenced at the societal level. Copyright © 2010, 2006 Pearson Education, inc.

What is Identity? “…a person may be born male, but as he grows from an infant to a boy to a teenager to a young man to a middle-aged man and then to an old man, the meanings of his male identity change.” © Maya Barnes Johansen/The Image Works

Understanding Identity  The Social Categories We Identity Ourselves With  Teachers  Students  The Social Categories Others Associate With Us  Tough Teachers  Smart Students  Primary Identities  Secondary Identities Copyright © 2010, 2006 Pearson Education, inc.

The Characteristics of Identity  Exists at Individual and Social Levels  Fixed and Dynamic  Created Through Interaction  Understood in Relation to Social, Historical, and Cultural Environments Copyright © 2010, 2006 Pearson Education, inc.

The Individual and Identity “What you define as beautiful, ethical, and even edible is based on what you have heard and experienced during your interactions with others.” Ian Waldie/ Reportage/ Getty Images

How Communication Develops Individual Identity  Reflected Appraisal  Particular Others  Generalized Other  Social Comparison  Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Copyright © 2010, 2006 Pearson Education, inc. Photos.com

The Self-Concept  Your understanding of how you are different from and similar to others  Self Esteem  Factors That Influence Potentially Inaccurate Self Esteem  The Honesty of Others  Distortions of Self  Modesty  Self Respect Copyright © 2010, 2006 Pearson Education, inc.

Performance of Individual Identity  How we express to the world who we think we are  Clothing/Accessories  Communication Style/Identity Enactment  Role Expectations  The Mutability of Identity Copyright © 2010, 2006 Pearson Education, inc.

The Individual, Identity, and Society “…you cannot understand yourself or others without understanding how society constructs or defines gender, sexuality, race, religion, social class and nationality.” ©Purestock/Alamy Royalty Free

Social Identity Categories  Racial Identity  National Identity  Ethnic Identity  Gender Identity  Sexual Identity  Age Identity  Social Class Identity  Religious Identity Copyright © 2010, 2006 Pearson Education, inc.

Ethics and Identity “…because identities derive their meanings from society, every identity comes with values attached to it.”

Relevant Ethical Issues  Communicating With Those Whose Identities Are More or Less Valued  Language That Denigrates Those Based on Their Identities  Reducing Others to a Single Identity Category Copyright © 2010, 2006 Pearson Education, inc.

Skills for Communicating About Identities “How you communicate to someone and about someone can influence how they perform their identity or how it develops.”

Guidelines for Communicating About Identities  Be aware of how you might create a self- fulfilling prophecy based on how you react to someone’s identity.  Be tolerant of the fact that there are many ways to create an identity. Copyright © 2010, 2006 Pearson Education, inc.