Introduction
Generally, it is easier to predict the behavior of people based on the nature of the social group they closely interact with. The interaction with each other is vital in shaping personal perceptions. The aspect of being in a group has raised a number of questions concerning the impact such involvement has on the individual’s identity. Generally, people have different personalities, which are significantly influenced by parental figures and other relevant factors including the general environment.
However, people have the ability to change and adapt to the behaviors portrayed and embraced by the community. In other words, how individuals are raised in society is essential in facilitating the ability to predict the conduct and even future roles within the group. Factors such as education, norms, relationships, church teachings, and gender are critical aspects of society that enable the community to influence an individual’s character.
Main Discussion
Generally, schools play a vital role in influencing the perception and shaping the self-identity of people in society. In other words, individuals usually develop their characters mainly from learning institutions. When people attend schools, they are more likely to build effective relationships and discipline needed for better coexistence. “In any given day, we interact with a multitude of other humans, whether we encounter them in person, virtually, or symbolically, intimately or simply in passing,” (Kang and Bodenhausen 548).
Based on Kang and Bodenhausen, the continuous interaction enables people to acquire unique behaviors. The knowledge gained through schooling has the potential to impact general conduct, thus making the facet essential for determining and influencing the required attributes. In such a situation, the social group will automatically impact the behavior of any person within the society and make them believe and appreciate the importance of education and its outcome.
Similarly, culture as an aspect of the community is fundamental in shaping the perspective of an individual in society. The community values that are embraced and respected are more likely to be adopted by the people in the society (Gkargkavouzi et al. 154).
In other words, some common characteristics such as love and friendliness, can be harnessed based on how the community views them. When people in a given social group value one another and have an effective relationship, such features will be viewed as core reasons that promote peaceful coexistence. Therefore, it becomes easier for an individual to value and acquire such characteristics. When the community embraces a particular behavior, the likelihood of people in the vicinity practicing the same is high, thus making it become part of the public. In such cases, the community contributes to the development of personal identity.
Furthermore, communities that value their people are likely to enhance the aspect of self-respect. In most cases, the experience a person has is essential in influencing how they treat each other. A system that encourages respect will make the people in such surrounding to as well establish similar attributes (Gkargkavouzi el al. 148). In other words, the individuals will perceive themselves as respectful and thus value others as well. In such a scenario, it is the picture that the community creates about the aspect of respect that impacts the public’s perception.
In addition, the community having the aspect of shared interest is capable of shaping the identity of its members in a positive manner. For instance, people will be encouraged to explore their potential and aim higher to achieve their individual goals. Therefore, in such cases, individuals develop the will to perform exceptionally from the societal construct (Wang, et al). It can be noted that the motive and drive as factors that prompt people to take a given action are obtained majorly from the individual’s surroundings. Hence, the community has the power to enable a person to shape the character and determination necessary for personal development.
Moreover, the value that the community places on gender has a significant impact on the perception of personal identity. For instance, if society values women, then it is more likely that females in society will develop a sense of belonging, which will make them highly integrated into all aspects of the social group. The same case applies to the degree they accord males in the community. When there is an effective relationship between the two genders and emotional development, any person in society will embrace such aspects and develop relevant attributes that support the conduct (Kang and Bodenhausen 555). In other words, people will have a positive attitude towards each gender and thus treat them accordingly. When the community creates normative expectations on particular gender roles, society promotes a picture that depicts all aspects that are necessary for self-identity.
Even though the community is capable of influencing the identity of people in a positive way, it is can further create a negative impact on individual behavior. For instance, a social group that does not value women will raise people who do not accord the necessary respect to females. In other words, it will be a norm in such a setting that women are inferior to men. Young ladies will grow with such notions the same as boys; thus, the circle will continue over generations. It might be challenging to reverse such belief because people grow up having a fixed mind.
Furthermore, the aspect of social status has the potential to create a negative impact on the identity of people in the community. According to Kang and Bodenhausen (551), race and gender are defined on the perspective of order of social class. “The interactive dynamics of race and gender are further complicated by a higher-order interaction with socioeconomic status,” implying that people will likely to associate based on where they belong in the society (According to Kang and Bodenhausen 551).
The persons without the ability to fit in a given category will feel isolated from the setting and thus become insignificant (Hope et al. 69). The conduct is not appropriate and has the potential to create an unhealthy relationship between the two classes. The rich in society might opt to disrespect the poor because that is what the facet of social class cultivates in the community. In other words, young children will mature; having the notion that being poor makes people unworthy.
In addition, society, through specific cultural beliefs, has the potation to impact the viewpoint of people negatively. For example, when the community believes and values the marriage institution, it will create a perception that discriminates the single parents and individuals who have chosen not to be engaged in marriage (Wang et al.) In other words, such environment will make individuals to involve in the practice even if they do not feel interested.
Conclusion
Based on the argument, it is evident that communities significantly influence one’s identity. People are more likely to develop behaviors that are predominant in the society. For instance, values and cultures that are practiced by the social group can be used to determine and influence the perception of individuals. Furthermore, the aspect of education as a key part of society is vital in instilling relevant attributes that shape the conduct of people. Therefore, interacting with different persons in the community enables people to have perspectives aligned to the individuals they frequently associate with.
Works Cited
Gkargkavouzi, Anastasia, George Halkos, and Steriani Matsiori. “Environmental Behavior in a Private-Sphere Context: Integrating Theories of Planned Behavior and Value Belief Norm, Self-Identity and Habit.” Resources, Conservation and Recycling, vol. 148, 2019, pp. 145-156. Web.
Hope, Elan C., et al. “Engaged Against the Machine: Institutional and Cultural Racial Discrimination and Racial Identity as Predictors of Activism Orientation among Black Youth.” American Journal of Community Psychology, vol. 63, no. 1-2, 2019, pp. 61-72. Web.
Kang, Sonia K., and Galen V. Bodenhausen. “Multiple identities in social perception and interaction: Challenges and opportunities.” Annual review of Psychology, vol. 66, no. 1, 2015, pp. 547-574. Web.
Wang, Xiao, et al. “I am vs. We are: How Biospheric Values and Environmental Identity of Individuals and Groups Can Influence Pro-Environmental Behaviour.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 12, 2021. Web.