My Family Is The Most Important Part Of All

Family plays an important role in every society. It is the main structure that made up a good society. Samovar, Porter & McDaniel (2015) write, “families are instrumental in teaching young people about their identities, how they fit into their culture, and where to find security” (p.73). Family is the first school in one’s life. In the early stages of our life, we learn how to eat, speak, communicate, and behave from our family, consciously and unconsciously we imitate our parents. In my religion (Islam) there is a great deal of attention to the importance of marriage and making family. Prophet Mohammad said, “The best of you is the best to his family and I am the best amongst you to my family”. Moreover, Islam assign a role to each member of the family, as parents take care of their children and the children should respect and obey their mother and father. I totally agree with Samovar, Porter & McDaniel (2015) when they mentioned that “the three most influential social organizations are (1) family, (2) state, and (3) religion” (p.70). For me, I believe that my family shapes most of my identity.

According to Salmon, 1985 (Salmon 1985, p171), development and change are not limited to childhood but continue throughout our lives. It is however argued that personal identities are similar to social identities, and include group or collective identities.

Outside influences have a strong capability to influence and alter our personal identity. Both directly and indirectly, the social contexts in which we live can change the way we think and feel, and by extension how we interact with other people and places. Immediate family, friendship groups and the physical environment are all factors which contribute to our ever changing perceptions of ourselves. Sometimes personal identity can be subtly reshaped over a gradual time frame, as our sense of who we are is modified without personal recognition that we are changing. At other times we may be able to notice our personal identity changing, through important life decisions.

There are many factors that shape us into who we are, and who we will become. Some of these factors we can control, while others we cannot. While we are born into many traits of our identities, much of our other behavior is learned. My identity, for example, is “based not only on responses to the question ‘Who am I?’ but also on responses to the question ‘Who am I in relation to others?’” (Allen, 2011, p. 11). My identity and the question of who I am, are both influenced by many aspects of my life, including my hometown, my family, my friends, and my beliefs and moral values.

Who We Are is determined by our individual growth and development. According to Erik Erikson (1971) eight stage developmental theory, humans continue to develop throughout their entire lifespan from birth until death. Each stage representing a key aspect in the development of one’s identity, and personality, and overall well-being. Our personal identity gives each of us an integrated and cohesive sense of self that endures and continues to grow as we age (Santrock 2009). These elements are influenced by factors such as socioeconomic status, location, culture, spiritual beliefs, and meeting of the basic human need. They determine how we grow, develop, and live our daily lives. Traveling through each stage in life from youth, adolescence, and adulthood, we must identify our strength and weaknesses through our choices, experiences, trauma, and death. Each experience influences our structure as it relates to adaptability, resilience, and help identity the consciousness of self. This development analysis is the journey through my life emphasizing on my personal growth and development setting the stage to the person that writes this paper reflecting on her life choices, and experiences in several forms (physically, mentally, and spiritually).

Every family is different and the same in their own way. Everyone functions with different roles and plays a part in how it functions on the day to day. While some people don’t put much thought into it, Dr. Murray Bowen has. ‘Dr. Murray Bowen suggests that individuals cannot be understood in isolation from one another, but rather as part of their family.’ (GenoPro) Eight concepts are

The public self is often times not the true self. This indication of a difference between the public and true self leads to the idea that the self and identity of an individual are different concepts. The self, is a person’s essential being that makes each individual unique compared to others; whereas the identity, is a person’s character that is essentially created to help the individual fit into society. These two concepts begin to form early in life through influences from society, family, and culture. However, as the individual beings to assimilate the world around them, their sense of identity transforms in order to adapt to the new environment, while their sense of self remains the same.

For my sociological portrait I have decided to discuss the institution of family and the way it has affected my identity. Family is an important part of how our adult identities are shaped. If we are lucky to have them in our lives, we learn so much from our parents when we are young, and as much as some of don’t want to admit it, they are a very large part of influencing who we will be in our adult lives. The concept of family as a driving force and social institution is interesting because it has the ability to effect of positively or negatively for the rest of our lives and it has the power to shape all of our future relationships and actions.

Philosophers from ancient Greece and Rome to modern scholars have contemplated what defines one’s identity. Everyone is a product of both their heredity and environment, and this is demonstrated in modern texts and podcasts. Individuals have limited control on their environment, actions of others, and genetics; however, memories and experiences influences how people behave and act.

A persons family or Family background can help determine one’s identity. Where you come from or who you’re raised by can help determine your identity in society. There are many other things that can help influence your identity, but your family’s background is one of the main ways and this is evident In “Public and Private Language” by Richard Rodriquez. Depending on what background you’re from your identity will automatically be determined.

Through the social connections of individuality and affiliation, we become who we are known as. Primarily, we start life with the influence of our elders. By the time we reach puberty, social awareness comes into play, and our own sense of originality takes flight with what we hear, see and touch and this, in turn, forms our connection with society. In sequence with this, our affiliation with friends and family form the backdrop of our existence, while our originality as an individual configures our personality. “Relationships

I don’t really know much about my identity through my heritage. However, my ‘identity’ has been found through my family’s and I’s moral beliefs and teachings. I couldn’t tell you much about before I was born, but I can say right now, I belong to people who accept me for me. Everything I am. Where I come from and who I’m going to be is because of the people I’ve chosen to immerse myself around. A quote by a man named Francis Conroy says it best, “As you age naturally, your family shows more and more on your face.” I hope this is true for me when I’m older. The values and traditions that I’ve always been around is something I am extremely proud of. The quote later goes on to say, “If you deny that, you deny your heritage.” No matter how many times I leave the family nest or allow myself to figure

According to Erikson, the development of the lifespan is a lifelong process from birth to death and includes the formation of identity (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010). I will cover in the paper six life events that influence my identity development from childhood to middle adulthood. Each life event will be explained based on the significance of the event as well as the impact the event had on my development. Also, theories will be discussed as they relate to my development.

My family genealogy has a profound influence on my self-identity. According to Hurtado, an individual’s self-identity is comprised of two components: “personal” and “social” identity. My family tree has its root in Veracruz, Mexico. My father’s father, Lorenzo Martinez, worked in the fields to support his family. He lost his wife Isabel Valdez due to declining health. It forced by grandfather to assume the role of mother and father to his six children. I know little about my grandmother Isabel because she died when my dad was a kid, so he does not remember a whole lot about her. The stories my father tells me recalled her motherly spirit. Lorenzo taught his children the values of hard work, respect, and family. He was described as a humble, charitable, and soft-spoken man who was loved by all and hated by none. Lorenzo’s humbleness and work ethic are characteristics I adopt to my personal identity. Henri Tajifel (1981) and colleagues define personal identity as psychological traits and features that give individuals personal uniqueness. This identity comes from influences, where much is associated within families. My mother’s mother, Reyna Leyva did not succumb to the patriarchy that grasps society in rural Mexico. She is a woman of authority and the embodiment of defiance. She is a loving woman, but she can be serious at times. She is a loud woman, which is full of charisma. While my mother’s father, Emilio Lara is a gentle and quite man like my grandfather, Lorenzo

My family shaped my personal and social identity at a micro level by being the first set of influencers the moment I was born. My personal identity is significantly influenced by my family through the approach that my parents have taken to raise and nurture me. The results of my parents raising me is shown through the behaviour and beliefs that I embody. For example, because of my family I have always been aware that there is a God. In consequence, my compliant behaviour towards religion has already been constructed at a young age. Moreover, my social identity’s structure was shaped by my family through they way they have socially interacted with me. My micro level interactions with my family throughout time has created a deeply rooted influence within me. The influence that my family has had on my social identity is demonstrated in the way that I respond in certain social situations. For example, through behavioural observation as a child I have learned not to speak back to my parents when they are lecturing me.