StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

The Quest for Identity - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The essay “The Quest for Identity” looks at the quest for identity, which is one of the major dilemmas that adolescents deal with on a daily basis. The feeling of anxiety of not being certain of who you are and finding out who you want to be is something that we have all experienced one way or another…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER95.8% of users find it useful
The Quest for Identity
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "The Quest for Identity"

 Self-understanding is the primary incarnation of a person’s identity. We become who we figure ourselves to become and this is on a daily basis. This is not to say that disposition is unstable, on the contrary, it is an integration of constancy of character. The development of one’s identity is the intermingling of all human activities and relationships among precise perspectives. It is not only within the walls of the school that an adolescent’s identity is developed. More of it is through the relationships and activities that they endow themselves into.

These are the things that they attain the most indulgence from and thus would most likely to shape them towards an identity that would form them into the future. The proverbial question of “Who am I?” is one that is often answered in the context of reciprocity from these core identity shaping matters. As with the subject exemplified by the author through Mac, the 14-year old boy who always gets into a fight. A deduction of this concept would equate that in the boundaries of the school he would be perceived as a difficult child.

But a deep analysis of the child’s psychological thinking reveals that he is someone who can be counted on by his friends and family in the instance that his help is needed. It cannot then be concluded that he is a misfit just on the basis of his school records and the many brawls he gets himself in. Identity crisis is another major difficulty that arises within this age group. A “developmental moratorium” as presented by Erikson in his model is necessary for adolescents to augment their capability of growth as they are allowed to experiment among varied experiences in their quest for identity.

It is an opportunity for them to use cognizance and explore potentials for further development. This attitude of keeping in tune with the possibilities is essential for a moratorium on experience. Erikson presents how individuals figure out what way they are to fit in into the society in the future. If we are to stick to Erikson’s model, then it would not make for much of a choice for adolescents such as Mac. Living under moderate to poor condition, others such as him would configure into a place in the society where he would be easily accepted and wherein monetary compensation would be reciprocated swiftly.

This does not pose much of a choice for developing a fitting identity. It stomps growth and thwarts the molding of a person to the best of his abilities and to the maximization of his capabilities. This is where the author is right in suggesting the necessary influences that thrust them away from wayward behavior and propels them to the realization of their latent potentials. Activities inside and outside the school grounds and mentoring are just some of the best means towards this goal. Identity development is something that makes or breaks advancement and it is important that during these pivotal points in an adolescent’s life they are surrounded by model behavior and that they are able to enhance their potentials and interests.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(The Quest for Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 658 words, n.d.)
The Quest for Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 658 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/sociology/1553300-refelction-paper-about-identity-and-possibility
(The Quest for Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 658 Words)
The Quest for Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 658 Words. https://studentshare.org/sociology/1553300-refelction-paper-about-identity-and-possibility.
“The Quest for Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 658 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/sociology/1553300-refelction-paper-about-identity-and-possibility.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF The Quest for Identity

The Great Gatsby

There is no denying the fact that The Quest for Identity and success is a theme that has oft been repeated time and again in most of the literary works right from the Greek times to the contemporary era.... There is no denying the fact that The Quest for Identity and success is a theme that has oft been repeated time and again in most of the literary works right from the Greek times to the contemporary era.... hellip; In that context, the two celebrated works of literature that are The Great Gatsby and the Les Miserables do tend to delve on the quest for an identity by the two central characters that are the Gatsby and Jean Valjean....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Love medicine novel

The character of Marie Kashpaw builds the theme of existential crisis or The Quest for Identity within the text.... Her quest for creating her own identity was successful and was above the limitations of a Lazzare.... The identity crisis and the quest of the self or the ‘cogito ergo sum' concept which means I think and therefore I exists develops as a very important thematic aspect of the novel, “Love Medicine” as the story of the novel proceeds....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Modern Chinese Literature

In a quest for self identification he pursues a research in the history of cannibalism to be halted by redundant words like “Confucian Virtue and Morality.... In a quest for self identification he pursues a research in the history of cannibalism to be halted by redundant words like “Confucian Virtue and Morality.... ?? Thereby, the predominant intention of the writer in Diary of a Madman seems to be to encourage his readers to work a new individual and national identity, by altering their ways and putting in efforts and hard work for the creation of a new China that has to deal with the realities impinged on it by a modern world....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Compare and contrast of the knight and wife of baths tale from the canterbury tales

The power and value relationships, romance, love and The Quest for Identity and sense of belonging are brought out in the hate that these two cousins develop for each other over the girl and the “mass judicial tournament” that they engage in all for the winner to give the girl a hand in marriage.... Though the scenarios in the two tales differ in the perspective of the responsibilities, they converge to one point of romance and love and the need for identity....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

The Psychology and the History of Quebec Nationalism

Integrating these two approaches will effectively paint an overall picture of the political and social aspects involved with Quebec's battle for a national identity.... Since the beginning of civilization, people have had a desire to form and bond with groups.... As civilization progressed, so did the organization and structure of these groups....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay

The Celtic Involvement in the British Imperial

hellip; This boils down to the very significant role of The Quest for Identity and the point on how the Britons came to finally accept the formal idea of Britons. The vote of the Welsh and Scottish people for devolution though could not be blamed.... People will ask how exactly did it form an imperial and national ethic and is the wrapping of flag to these three nations even worth it Others say it is just a propaganda, others say the empire is trying and haggling over this goal to reach unity for identity....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

The Truthfulness of the Story on a Screen for a Certain Period

Cinema started to serve as an important source of information and entertainment at the same time.... In the XXI century, however, with appearance of… As everyone is able to watch the same film at home, the purpose of going to the cinema seems illogical.... However, people do go to multiplexes still....
8 Pages (2000 words) Case Study

Wizard of Oz

The trends shown in this movie shows the culture incorporated in my teenage years – the strength of friendship, The Quest for Identity, the teenagers' love for music, and the teenagers' love for food.... Each person has a quest for identity and at some point in their teenage life, they feel as though they don't have one, or perhaps striving to become like someone they look up to.... the quest for one's self-identity is defined by the circumstances around us that it influences our decisions and frame of mind....
3 Pages (750 words) Movie Review
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us