1 Understanding yourself and others

What do we mean by identity? A useful definition might start with that of ‘self-identity’ as ‘the way in which I see, describe or define myself’ (OpenLearn, 2014). However, there is more to the concept than this definition suggests. One of the first steps you can take in developing your practice is to begin to understand your unique identity. This will help you to recognise that you see and interpret the world in a particular way. Understanding identity, both your own and that of others, involves recognising the aspects of identity that have meaning for the individual and the effects of these on their lives. Our identities include many aspects of who we are and who/what we identify with, and these will change over time.

Maybe you have previously thought about your own identity and how you would describe yourself to others. It might be important to you that your age, race, gender, where you live, occupation or educational status is part of how you see yourself. Your interests, personal characteristics or traits and sense of belonging to any groups or communities might also form part of your overall identity.

Aspects of your lived experience might also have had an influence in shaping and describing your identity. Do you think of yourself as essentially the same person, having a fairly constant idea of yourself that changes little, whatever the situation? Or do you see your identity as complex and changing, transformed by the way in which you respond to similarities and differences between yourself and those around you?

Whatever comprises your identity, it is unique to you and likely to have changed over time. Other people might describe you differently or fail to recognise hugely important aspects of your identity. In many ways, parts of our identities weave together in complex ways, and they shift according to what happens to us in our lives.