Rothman 's Chapter 5 covered Theories of Identity Development, which was very interesting, in my own opinion. It gave me different perspectives on how it is possible for someone to develop their own identity, and that it is not the same for everyone. The two theories I have chose to explore the suggested readings to understand my own identity development is; “Transitional Crisis States” (Identity loss, family, and social change), and “Disabled Person Identity Development” (The importance of social imagery in interpreting societally devalued people to the public). I found myself learning a few things from each suggested readings, in regards to my own identity development. The section on “Transitional Crisis States” caught my attention immediately.
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They have created tons of anxiety, and strain, even when I believed I was willing to make changes. A few examples that identity crisis occurred during include: when I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy with Cataplexy, divorcing my first husband, and the diagnosis of my social anxiety. I had a general self awareness of how these transitions in my life were creating identity crisis, and how I was not the same person after, but not to the extent I do now. The suggested reading I decided to read was Identity loss, family, and social change, by Weiger, and Hastings. I feel that this theory enhanced my understanding of my own identity development on a very large scale. The reading helped me “normalize”, and even have “ah-ha” moments about how my own identity crisis has changed my identity over my life. It honestly was a breath of fresh air, to finally realize that each identity crisis in the end has had a positive impact on my identity development. For example, when I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy, I felt lost, and as if a part of me was no longer. I was told all the things I should no longer do (from driving, to living the average late teenager life), to all the medications I now would have to take multiple times a day, for the rest of my life. Instantly, I noticed the …show more content…
“Positive identification” was my biggest take away from the reading, and how it creates positive results from people with disabilities modeling social norms with the embracing of their disability. This theory also gave me a better understanding of my identity development. I feel that looking back on the same example used above (my diagnosis of Narcolepsy with Cateplexy, which is an invisible disability), I am able to realize the ways in which I changed/developed my identity by modeling social norms, as I learned to embrace/accept my disability. I returned to college, but with help had accommodations set in place to help me reach even ground with non-disabled students. Another aspect is that I became self-employed as a courier to gain employment, so that I could work in some fashion, to make a living. From my new understanding of identity development I would say that these are situations that correlate with the author’s theory. The readings helped me be aware of how my past identity crisis’, along with the changes in my identity and life have developed my current identity. It is interesting to see how the development of my identity has changed overtime, more so than I ever realized, and what played a part in it. I feel
They have created tons of anxiety, and strain, even when I believed I was willing to make changes. A few examples that identity crisis occurred during include: when I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy with Cataplexy, divorcing my first husband, and the diagnosis of my social anxiety. I had a general self awareness of how these transitions in my life were creating identity crisis, and how I was not the same person after, but not to the extent I do now. The suggested reading I decided to read was Identity loss, family, and social change, by Weiger, and Hastings. I feel that this theory enhanced my understanding of my own identity development on a very large scale. The reading helped me “normalize”, and even have “ah-ha” moments about how my own identity crisis has changed my identity over my life. It honestly was a breath of fresh air, to finally realize that each identity crisis in the end has had a positive impact on my identity development. For example, when I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy, I felt lost, and as if a part of me was no longer. I was told all the things I should no longer do (from driving, to living the average late teenager life), to all the medications I now would have to take multiple times a day, for the rest of my life. Instantly, I noticed the …show more content…
“Positive identification” was my biggest take away from the reading, and how it creates positive results from people with disabilities modeling social norms with the embracing of their disability. This theory also gave me a better understanding of my identity development. I feel that looking back on the same example used above (my diagnosis of Narcolepsy with Cateplexy, which is an invisible disability), I am able to realize the ways in which I changed/developed my identity by modeling social norms, as I learned to embrace/accept my disability. I returned to college, but with help had accommodations set in place to help me reach even ground with non-disabled students. Another aspect is that I became self-employed as a courier to gain employment, so that I could work in some fashion, to make a living. From my new understanding of identity development I would say that these are situations that correlate with the author’s theory. The readings helped me be aware of how my past identity crisis’, along with the changes in my identity and life have developed my current identity. It is interesting to see how the development of my identity has changed overtime, more so than I ever realized, and what played a part in it. I feel