1. Identity Development
Chapter 3

2. What is the role of identity in studying intercultural communication
Identity serves as a bridge between culture and communication
We develop our identities through communication
How do you identify yourself? Are you male, female, tall, short, Indian, African, white etc?
How do you know this is your identity?

3. Identities are created through commuication
Identitiesa re merged and created when we communicate
Messages are exchanged between persons either creating, merging, negotiating, reinforcing or challenging identities.
Do you sometimes witness someone doing something and say “I’m not that” or “I would never do such a thing”
Different identities are dependant on who we are communicating with. Often it’s emphasised that parents need to say positive things about their children and to their children because we create what they think of themselves – their identity.

4. How are identities created
Identities don not develop overnight
They are created in spurts – meaning certain events spur on an understanding of who we are and what we are and what we want to be or who we want to be.
Identities are also multiple or layered – I identify as being female, Muslim, Indian, a wife, daughter, mother, e-tutor etc.
Identities are also influenced by society – often there is an idea of what success looks like for both genders – do you conform to that or create your own identity of success?

5. Identities are dynamic and developed in different ways
Identities are also fluid – people often choose what they want to identify with. People can change their religions, even their gender eg: Caitlyn Jenner etc.
Identifying as a woman can take on different meanings – depending on what you’re influenced by, your upbringing, cultural context, religious views etc.
Identity development does not occur in the same way for everyone.
We all have had different experiences and varied influences in life. We find that culture and traditions differs from one community to the next, from one country to the next, from one population group to the next.

6. Social and cultural identities
What do you understand by social and cultural identity
Read up on:
gender identity,
sexual identity,
age identity,
racial and ethnic identity,
religious identity,
class identity
National identity
Regional identity
Occupational identity
Cyber identity

7. Personal identity
Personal identity – our sense of self is informed by the way we choose to identify ourselves sometimes using the varied identities mentioned as ways of describing ourselves. WE choose to describe ourselves by gender, cultural background, sexual orientation, religious beliefs etc.
But sometimes our identity is influenced by outside forces – if people perceive you as attractive, then you think you’re attractive or if people trust you then you think of yourself as trustworthy and reliable etc.

8. Identity theories
There are three identity theories that are covered. These are :
Social identity theory
Cultural identity theory
Social dominance theory

9. Phases in identity development
Minority identity development: made up of four phases
Unexamined identity
Conformity
Resistance and separatism
integration

10. Majority identity development
Also includes four phases:
Unexamined identity
Acceptance
Resistance
Redefinition and reintegration

11. Culture shock It’s a term that is often used but what does it mean?
Think about it and add it to the discussion forum.