Identity Formation-Selection Theory

By: Sufi Mohamed

Much of the media's influence explicitly encompasses the theory which I will call identity formation-selection.

In this theory, I propose that the media is entirely effecting the wide populace with respect to identity formation. This theory stems from the teachings of the Frankfurt school which continues to influence my perception of the media's reign in political inquiry and philosophical domain. Considerably, the media's influence are quite expansive, but what I put into perspective is the notion of two competing ideals with regards to individual development--identity selection and identity individual formation.

To adequately analyze the identity formation-selection theory, I will first describe what I mean by identity, identity formation, and identity selection.

Identity

Identity is repeatedly argued that it is quite unique among humanists; for example, my friend Levar (philosopher whom I greatly respect) argues that identity is solely unique to that individual. Although this is a highly respected ideal with regard to the definition of identity, I refute the notion that identity is merely a characteristic of that individual only.

Princeton University defines identity like this:

The distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity (source: wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn)

Communications-wise, I believe that identity is not a distinct personality but a result of the following: massification, the public sphere, ideologies and hegemonic influences.

Consider that identity is a result of the aforementioned listed terms. What I mean by massification is the information's spreading (that is the ideologies and hegemonic influences spread throughout the populace either through multiple medias--tv, internet, radio, etc..--or the government's propaganda). Massification contributes to MAINSTREAM ideologies. Due to massification, mainstream ideologies are now in hegemonic practises.

How does this relate to the definition of identity?

Identity does not become a distinct personality, it becomes a mainstream personality which later moulds into a new identity as a result of age and experience. Identity is not a persistent entity, identities are static and imprecise in their desire.

Identity Selection

What does "Identity Selection" mean? This means that the individual doesn't choose an identity, the individual selects an identity.

Because of media saturation, the individual doesn't make his/her own identity he/she finds to be satisfying, rather, the individual succumbs to the gripping threshold of mass media and selects an identity from the pool of identities.

Pool of identities? What does it mean? It implies, because of media saturation, the identities held reserved by the media for a specific group. The media creates identities! How does it do that? Because characteristics and personalities are constructed by the media, they prepare identities for the populace to accept from the pool of identities.

The person doesn't merely succumb to the power of mass media, that person is the result of hegemonic ideals. That person's identity is moulded by the media. The individual does not choose his identity for the media has already chosen it for him.

Identity Formation

This basically means that the individual, through trial and error and with the development of experience and age--especially through self-reflection, becomes the product of his/her own identity. What this means is that the individual after experimentation makes his/her own personality as a result of their own experience. This doesn't mean that the identity is distinct, it is the result of massification that this individual has settled on an identity he/she finds satisfying.

(This theory will be regularly updated as a result of new findings. (c) Sufi Mohamed, 2006)