“Evaluate_the_Claim_That_Conflict_Is_a_Catalyst_for_Identity_Change”

“Evaluate the claim that conflict is a catalyst for identity change” This TMA is going to evaluate the claim that conflict causes identity changes. Erikson defines identity as ‘a sense of one’s continuity over time as a being or entity that is different from others’ (Erikson, 1980 [1959], cited: Hollway, 2009, p.252). Knowing that we are different from each other gives us our sense of identity. Firstly this TMA will seek to define what is meant by conflict and identity. It will look at identity in more detail including how identities are formed and change over time. This TMA will then consider how we perceive ourselves and are perceived by those around us. How the people that surround us can influence how we identify ourselves. This is followed by how identity interacts within society as a whole. How an identity can be marked by society and how this can define us as individuals. Finally this TMA will conclude showing that conflict can be a catalyst for identity change but is not always the case. Erikson highlights that identity transformations occur over the course of our lives. He says that there are eight stages throughout life upon which our identity is changed in different ways through what he calls ‘identity crises’ (Hollway, 2009, p.252). The use of the word crises would suggest that conflict is present at each stage in our lives as identity changes are happening. Conflict is defined in the Oxford dictionary as ‘a state of mind in which a person experiences a clash of opposing feelings or needs’ (Oxford Dictionary). Included is the inner conflict we feel when we are pulled between the different people in our lives, for example a teenager trying to create their own sense of self whilst under the influence of both their parents and their peer group. What is not clear is if the conflict is a catalyst for identity change, or arises as a result of already existing changes. There are many types of identity some examples are ethnicity, nationality, gender, marital status and class. Though some identities are fixed, such as ethnicity, many can change over the passage of time and it is these identity changes that this TMA is going to consider. Taylor says that personal identity is ‘who I think I am’, and that identities are learnt and therefore subject to change throughout your life. In contrast to personal identity is your social identity, which connects us to other people and places including group, collective or situational identities (Taylor, 2009, p.171). Our identity can change depending on the situation that we are in, for example shopper and shopkeeper, however this TMA is going to focus on major identity transformations such as from single person to mother. Conflicts over a person’s lifetime are inevitable as you mature and grow as a person. From being a young child right through to independent adulthood there is conflict with your caregiver, in early stages of life this can be known as ‘terrible twos’ also commonly known is the ‘moody teenager’. The claim states that conflict is the catalyst for change but in these situations it is apparent that conflict is arising as the result of individual identity changes. A catalyst that can cause identity change can be the completely life changing event of having a baby. The case study written by Hollway shows how Silma wanted to become a mother and then went through a process of changes. Before having her baby she felt separate from her aunts as she was a person of her own volition. She was not able to identify with them but after having Abeedah she identified herself as a mother, and also as part of the group with her aunts (Hollway, 2009, p.269). This case study shows how relational identities change over time. In addition to relational identities Silma’s body changed though she described herself as petite before and after she had her baby she has changed the clothes she wears. The new style of clothing, salwaar kameez, she says are not as tight fitting and therefore more comfortable to wear (Hollway, 2009, p.271). It can also be noted that the salwaar kameez fits into Silma’s own identity change as it appears more motherly, being the clothing worn by Silma’s aunts and own mother. This further change incites conflict with Silma’s sister who can’t identify with the changes Silma is going through because she has yet to become a mother. Our bodies form part of our identity, an obvious part of this is skin colour. People can view the colour of their skin as positive or negative, and throughout history it has been a major cause of conflict amongst the human race. As Fanon states there is a long history of racism behind the meaning of black skin and how white people relate to them via their skin colour (Hollway, 2009 p.277). Fanon also says that it is not the biology of black skin that is the problem in relations it is ‘how this aspect of biology is treated and experienced in social relationships’ (Fanon cited in: Hollway, 2009 p.279). The colour of a person’s skin would be irrelevant if it were not for the history of racism across previous centuries. Indeed it may be perceived if there was not such a diversity of individuals conflicts may be more limited. In the case study (Hollway, 2009, p.282) Anthony is looking for work and feels as though his racial identity, his age and also his identity as a young person, are detrimental to him being offered employment. When acting the telephone conversation he takes on the identity of a middle class white person, it is his view that the different identity means that he is more likely to be offered a position. It can also be noted that these are parts of his identity that he cannot change. Conflict here is the catalyst for identity change, not conflict in the natural sense of the term, but inner conflict with himself and his history. His feeling of conflict about a situation he can’t control means that he has to change that part of himself, therefore an identity change albeit short. A similar form of conflict has been demonstrated by the August 2011 riots in London and other cities across England. Media coverage has shown images of young people, the majority of which appear to be young black males, facing employment problems and in a situation that could be parallel to that of Anthony. The conflict was on a mass scale with no clear goal or reason, yet it can be linked to identity – that of working classes who feel unable to keep up with a consumerist society. It remains to be seen if the conflict will result in identity changes however as the ‘young’ people grow older and for many realise the implications of their actions the conflict they were a part of is likely to change their identity. It is another possibility that there were people at the scene who did have the situational identity of a bystander, viewing the events unfolding around them but as the opportunity arose during the conflict their identity was change to that of looter as they followed the people around them. In both of these examples conflict is the catalyst for change, although one is personal identity change and the other situational change. This TMA is going to conclude that conflict is not the catalyst for identity change on a long term scale. People may change their identities in certain situations, for example in the case of Anthony, acting the part of a middle class white man, but the change is not significant for any period of time. Silma’s identity change is permanent, now she has had her baby she will not see the world in the same way as she did before. Although there is an identity conflict, recognised between herself and her sister, that is not the catalyst for change. In this situation conflict arose as a result of Silma’s identity changing not because of it. Throughout life there are many changes we make to ourselves and for ourselves. Some changes may be because of conflict that we going through making conflict the catalyst for this change, but there are also a lot of cases where natural identity changes happen and happens during or after the transformations and not because of them. WORD COUNT: 1390 (Excluding Title) REFERENCES: Hollway, W. (2009) ‘Identity change and identification’ in Bromley, S., Clarke, J., Hinchliffe, S. and Taylor, S. (eds) Exploring Social Lives, Milton Keynes, The Open University. Oxford Dictionary, [Online], http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/conflict accessed 8th August 2011. Taylor, S., (2009) ‘Who do we think we are' Identities in everyday life’ in Taylor, S., Hinchliffe, S., Clarke, J. and Bromley, S. (eds) Making Social Lives, Milton Keynes, The Open University.