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"Everyone’s identity is socially created: it’s through your relationships that you understand yourself as a mother or a father, a teacher or an accountant, a he

"Everyone’s identity is socially created: it’s through your relationships that you understand yourself as a mother or a father, a teacher or an accountant, a hero or a villain." This drew my attention in particular. Is this true for all people, truly, including devout introverts, or is it merely a generalization? Does it perhaps have varying degrees of applicability based on how intro- or extroverted someone is?

zackattack 17y ago
No, it's not true for all people. The vast majority of people have socially-created identities, but a very small percentage of people can consciously strive to ground their identities in something else, e.g., the here and now. Devout introverts still likely have socially created identities. The applicability varies based on the degree of conscious effort applied to change identity.
- deleted 17y ago
  [deleted]
swombat 17y ago
I don't think it's a matter of introversion vs extroversion. Also, I don't think it's generally true. Certainly, a large part of our identity is socially created. Yet, at the same time, there is a pretty large kernel that's there whether or not we're in our usual social circles, whether or not we change our career, location, etc. And, for some, that kernel is more important than the socially-dependent aspects. I'd add that some parts of that kernel override whatever environment we're in. A gentleman is still a gentleman in the gutter, as they say. Just because you're in the company of thugs doesn't mean you're going to define yourself as a thug. So, while we certainly do adapt our behaviour to the role that we're presenting, it is ultimately just a role - not our identity.
- mkelly 17y ago
  I'm unsure how this "kernel" isn't socially created too. Whether we decide to act like those around us, or different than them, is irrelevant. The article is saying that just having someone around us to interact with in some way is vital for our brain to even function. Introverts still have plenty of social interaction -- maybe not in the small area of recreational socialization that gets so much attention from extroverts, but our society is still made up of a bunch of people. You have to interact with them to do much of anything.
- khafra 17y ago
  Research shows the environment overrides the kernel: http://lesswrong.com/lw/4e/cached_selves/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/4e/cached_selves/

zackattack 17y ago

No, it's not true for all people. The vast majority of people have socially-created identities, but a very small percentage of people can consciously strive to ground their identities in something else, e.g., the here and now. Devout introverts still likely have socially created identities. The applicability varies based on the degree of conscious effort applied to change identity.

deleted 17y ago
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swombat 17y ago

I don't think it's a matter of introversion vs extroversion. Also, I don't think it's generally true. Certainly, a large part of our identity is socially created. Yet, at the same time, there is a pretty large kernel that's there whether or not we're in our usual social circles, whether or not we change our career, location, etc. And, for some, that kernel is more important than the socially-dependent aspects. I'd add that some parts of that kernel override whatever environment we're in. A gentleman is still a gentleman in the gutter, as they say. Just because you're in the company of thugs doesn't mean you're going to define yourself as a thug. So, while we certainly do adapt our behaviour to the role that we're presenting, it is ultimately just a role - not our identity.

mkelly 17y ago
I'm unsure how this "kernel" isn't socially created too. Whether we decide to act like those around us, or different than them, is irrelevant. The article is saying that just having someone around us to interact with in some way is vital for our brain to even function. Introverts still have plenty of social interaction -- maybe not in the small area of recreational socialization that gets so much attention from extroverts, but our society is still made up of a bunch of people. You have to interact with them to do much of anything.
khafra 17y ago
Research shows the environment overrides the kernel: http://lesswrong.com/lw/4e/cached_selves/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/4e/cached_selves/