Who Am I?
Understanding Identity and the Many Ways We Define Ourselves
1 of 1 copy available
Many teens grapple with the seemingly simple question, "Who am I?" and struggle to integrate their experiences at school, at home, and with friends into their burgeoning sense of identity. How teens see themselves can influence the friends they choose, the decisions they make, and their mental and physical well-being. Having a strong sense of self can help them resist peer pressure, avoid risky behaviors, and make choices and plans that align with their values and interests. Yet research shows that such factors as heavy social media use can have a strongly negative effect on healthy identity formation for today's teens.
Who Am I? Understanding Identity and the Many Ways We Define Ourselves examines the subjects of identity and identity formation across the lifespan, with special emphasis on the teenage years. Beyond simply discussing relevant psychological theories, the book focuses on how identity formation happens in the real world and how it affects the daily lives of teens. It also includes a collection of fictional case studies that provide concrete, relatable illustrations of concepts discussed in the book.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
December 6, 2021 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9798216164937
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9798216164937
- File size: 564 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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March 1, 2022
Selby's (Therapy and Counseling) introduction to the concept of identity is written at a basic but not popularized level. Four leading theories of identity development are outlined (e.g., Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development; James Marcia's theory of identity statuses), with emphasis on abstract analysis--though the book ends with case studies of 10 young people rather than solutions or actions (e.g., how to help someone with "diffused diffusion"). Mostly focusing on younger ages (retirement gets just four pages), it explains adoptive, athletic, differently abled, cultural, ethnic/racial, gender, narrative, professional, sexual, and social (including generational) identities. In the era of identity politics, Selby doesn't give enough space to investigating national and political determinants and polarized identity, though one section defines Black Lives Matter, critical race theory, and #MeToo. Social media is presented as mostly positive; the technology chapter ignores the commercially objectified self, narcissism, self-commodification, identity-monetizing influencers, and media construction of identity. An annotated list offers sources of information on identity (there are no footnotes or bibliography). Selby's writing is specialized and academic in many sections; the book's glossary helps somewhat. VERDICT High school and community college students, especially, seeking a grounding on the topic might start here.--Patricia D. Lothrop
Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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March 15, 2022
This text grapples with the notion of personal identity. Chapters feature clinical language and explore various designations that can relate to personal identity (age, ethnicity, sex, etc.) as well as theories about how individuals develop their personal identities. There are discussions about what constitutes strong and weak senses of identity and how these differences can affect social and emotional interactions. Considerable attention is given to twenty-first-century influences. Positive and negative impacts of technology and social media are considered, as are globalization, climate change, rising social consciousness (like the Black Lives Matter movement), ageism, terrorism, and COVID-19. The book ends with 10 case studies that describe a variety of individuals and identify the factors that are affecting their conceptions of personal identity. Back matter includes a list of resources, a glossary, and a bibliography. Popular media and recent nonfiction titles have focused considerable attention on emerging self-identifiers, definitions, and labels. This authoritative guide organizes current research and theory and serves as a touchstone for readers wondering who they are and where they fit in.COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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