Nation, Community, Nation, Community, Identity and ‘Other’.Identity and ‘Other’.

OutlineOutline sociological, psychoanalytic and psychological sociological, psychoanalytic and psychological

accounts of the formation of identity in late accounts of the formation of identity in late modern timesmodern times

role that social hatred plays in the formation of role that social hatred plays in the formation of identityidentity

social hatred and participation in hate crimes can social hatred and participation in hate crimes can create and reinforce social identity. create and reinforce social identity.

role of peer groups, friendships and cliques role of peer groups, friendships and cliques identity formation of young men and identity formation of young men and negative labelling determines identities. negative labelling determines identities. The dark side of identity acquisition.The dark side of identity acquisition.

Psychological Perspectives, Psychological Perspectives, Erikson 1965Erikson 1965

Identity formation main Identity formation main psychological taskpsychological task

"identity crisis". Erikson "identity crisis". Erikson eight developmental stages in eight developmental stages in

human life human life identity crisis is the most important identity crisis is the most important

conflict human beings encounter conflict human beings encounter when they go through these stages.when they go through these stages.

EriksonErikson Identity a subjective experience of oneself as well as Identity a subjective experience of oneself as well as

a set of observable characteristics. a set of observable characteristics. Also the way that other people experience us. Also the way that other people experience us. onset of the identity crisis occurs in the teenage onset of the identity crisis occurs in the teenage

years. years. Only individuals who succeed in resolving this crisis Only individuals who succeed in resolving this crisis

will be ready to face future challenges will be ready to face future challenges identity crisis - recurring, identity crisis - recurring, world demands us to constantly redefine ourselves. world demands us to constantly redefine ourselves. The loss of "a sense of personal sameness and The loss of "a sense of personal sameness and

historical continuity". historical continuity". A ‘healthy’ subjectivity and identity something A ‘healthy’ subjectivity and identity something

stable??? stable???

Erikson and ‘Tribal Erikson and ‘Tribal psychology’ psychology’

‘‘Tribal psychology’ based on association Tribal psychology’ based on association with human subgroups rather than humanity with human subgroups rather than humanity as a whole. as a whole.

Pseudospeciation, Pseudospeciation, Can, produce atrocities, hatreds and brutality Can, produce atrocities, hatreds and brutality Nazism a powerful form of such inhumanity. Nazism a powerful form of such inhumanity. Identifying with subgroups ‘a two-edged Identifying with subgroups ‘a two-edged

sword’sword’ Promotes cooperation within social groups Promotes cooperation within social groups

but inhibits cooperation between groups but inhibits cooperation between groups A psychosocial theoryA psychosocial theory

Psychoanalysis; Phantasy, Psychoanalysis; Phantasy, Splitting and Projection.Splitting and Projection.

Experiences of sexual development in Experiences of sexual development in infanthood that shape the kind of identities infanthood that shape the kind of identities we become attached to and the kinds of we become attached to and the kinds of relationships we have with others. relationships we have with others.

  "Infantile feelings and phantasies leave, as "Infantile feelings and phantasies leave, as it were, their imprints on the mind, imprints it were, their imprints on the mind, imprints that do not fade away but get stored up, that do not fade away but get stored up, remain active, and exert a continuous and remain active, and exert a continuous and powerful influence on the emotional and powerful influence on the emotional and intellectual life of the individual" intellectual life of the individual" (Klein:1975:290)(Klein:1975:290)

Psychoanalysis 2Psychoanalysis 2 Fantasy usually associated with something imagined or unreal.Fantasy usually associated with something imagined or unreal. Phantasy, for Klein, however a defence mechanism (Segal:1992:30). Phantasy, for Klein, however a defence mechanism (Segal:1992:30). Exerts a profound influence on everyday life Exerts a profound influence on everyday life Our subjectivity, is constructed in unconscious phantasy. Our subjectivity, is constructed in unconscious phantasy. Our instincts are always attached to an object Our instincts are always attached to an object Our instincts are object seeking. Our instincts are object seeking. Phantasy is not an escape from reality, but can produce reality.Phantasy is not an escape from reality, but can produce reality. A central part of how we understand the world.A central part of how we understand the world. A world of good and bad objects are constructed through a process of A world of good and bad objects are constructed through a process of

projection and introjection.projection and introjection. We take good objects into our self and project bad objects onto We take good objects into our self and project bad objects onto

others. others. ‘‘Splitting’ an unconscious process by which positive and negative Splitting’ an unconscious process by which positive and negative

impulses and feelings that are too difficult to be held together spring impulses and feelings that are too difficult to be held together spring apart and become projected onto different people. (Clarke 2002) apart and become projected onto different people. (Clarke 2002)

Split between good and bad relieves our doubt. Split between good and bad relieves our doubt. a crucial part of the way we understand the world. a crucial part of the way we understand the world. A defence against anxiety.A defence against anxiety.

PhantasyPhantasy phantasy provides a vehicle for the construction of phantasy provides a vehicle for the construction of

our own identity, our own identity, Also, through projection, the construction of Others. Also, through projection, the construction of Others. Phantasy involves doing something to some other.Phantasy involves doing something to some other. Other- an object which has become split off or Other- an object which has become split off or

separated from the self separated from the self Jean-Paul Sartre's (1976) work, Jean-Paul Sartre's (1976) work, Anti-Semite and JewAnti-Semite and Jew- -

phantasy made reality through projective phantasy made reality through projective identification. identification.

If the Jew did not exist, then the anti-Semite would If the Jew did not exist, then the anti-Semite would invent him. invent him.

The Jew a container to hold what is dangerous and The Jew a container to hold what is dangerous and frightening. frightening.

Processes of othering are central to self and group Processes of othering are central to self and group identity.identity.

    Identity and Hatred in late Identity and Hatred in late

modernitymodernity Self a ‘project’ Self a ‘project’ identity is plasticidentity is plastic what are the consequences of this plasticity and fluidity of what are the consequences of this plasticity and fluidity of

self self Globalization -erosion of traditional cultureGlobalization -erosion of traditional culture Resurgence of aggressive nationalisms Resurgence of aggressive nationalisms Globalisation erodes national identities, traditional moral Globalisation erodes national identities, traditional moral

frameworks and value systems frameworks and value systems Unifying forces of globalization and the fragmenting forces Unifying forces of globalization and the fragmenting forces

of identity politics are two sides of the same coin. of identity politics are two sides of the same coin. LocalizationLocalization- bounded entities. - bounded entities. Bounded countries (nationalism or separatism), bounded Bounded countries (nationalism or separatism), bounded

faith systems (religious revitalization), bounded cultures faith systems (religious revitalization), bounded cultures (linguistic or cultural movements) or bounded interest (linguistic or cultural movements) or bounded interest groups (ethnicity)groups (ethnicity)

Roland Robertson, might be Roland Robertson, might be glocalizationglocalization. .

Identity PoliticsIdentity Politics Concerns the liberation of a specific region or group Concerns the liberation of a specific region or group

that has been marginalised reclaiming of identity that has been marginalised reclaiming of identity Challenges dominant oppressive discourses or Challenges dominant oppressive discourses or

structures or institutions. structures or institutions. goal of greater self-determination or autonomy.goal of greater self-determination or autonomy. Examples Gay Pride, second wave feminism, Black Examples Gay Pride, second wave feminism, Black

Civil Rights Civil Rights Critiques of cultural imperialismCritiques of cultural imperialism Recommends the transformation of previously Recommends the transformation of previously

stigmatised accounts of group membership. stigmatised accounts of group membership. Indigenous rights movements worldwide, nationalist Indigenous rights movements worldwide, nationalist

projects, or demands for regional self-determination projects, or demands for regional self-determination and autonomy use similar arguments. and autonomy use similar arguments.

Identity Politics and Identity Politics and GlobalisationGlobalisation

Modernisation and globalisation may Modernisation and globalisation may highlight differences and trigger conflict. highlight differences and trigger conflict. Inequalities are made visible by Inequalities are made visible by globalisationglobalisation

intensified contact entailed by intensified contact entailed by globalisation.globalisation.

Eriksen ‘you do not envy your neighbour Eriksen ‘you do not envy your neighbour if you are unaware of his existence’.if you are unaware of his existence’.

Dangers with this argument. Dangers with this argument.

Cultural Difference and Cultural Difference and NationalismNationalism

Martin Barker ‘New Racism’ the problematisation Martin Barker ‘New Racism’ the problematisation of cultural difference of cultural difference

Ethnic nationalism, politicized religion and Ethnic nationalism, politicized religion and indigenous movements all forms of identity indigenous movements all forms of identity politicspolitics

In-group often depicted as homogeneous, In-group often depicted as homogeneous, internal differences glossed over internal differences glossed over serves the interests of the privileged segments of serves the interests of the privileged segments of

the group??? the group??? Nostalgic?Nostalgic? harking back to an imaginary time of cultural harking back to an imaginary time of cultural

harmony and economic prosperity harmony and economic prosperity

Cultural Difference & Cultural Difference & Nationalism 2Nationalism 2

InvokesInvokes political political symbolism symbolism Uses myths, cultural symbols and kinship Uses myths, cultural symbols and kinship

terminology terminology A notion of a national ‘we’ or a collective A notion of a national ‘we’ or a collective

‘us’. ‘us’. Social complexity in society is reduced to a Social complexity in society is reduced to a

set of simple contrasts. set of simple contrasts. Internal differences ignored in the act of Internal differences ignored in the act of

constructing boundaries and demonising an constructing boundaries and demonising an Other. Other.

Peer groups, Cliques and Peer groups, Cliques and Sub-culturesSub-cultures

Groups can become “containers” in Groups can become “containers” in the search for self-identity.the search for self-identity.

Peer groups are markers of status, Peer groups are markers of status, acceptance and successacceptance and success

Political groups, nations and religious Political groups, nations and religious groups help us define self against groups help us define self against other. other.

Adolescent Girls and the Adolescent Girls and the Policing of IdentityPolicing of Identity

Valerie Valerie Hey ‘The Company She Keeps’Hey ‘The Company She Keeps’ the socio- the socio-dynamics of girls freindshipsdynamics of girls freindships

micro-politics and micro-technologies of girls micro-politics and micro-technologies of girls friendships usually dismissed as 'garbage' and friendships usually dismissed as 'garbage' and 'trivial' or bitchy material. 'trivial' or bitchy material.

Negotiation of friendship among girls something Negotiation of friendship among girls something that is always constituted in the "socially coercive that is always constituted in the "socially coercive presence of the male gaze" (p. 65).presence of the male gaze" (p. 65).

Best friendships are the result of cultural pressure Best friendships are the result of cultural pressure to convert wider loyalties to these individualized to convert wider loyalties to these individualized sources of power and regulation. sources of power and regulation.

It is through these close peers that girls regulate It is through these close peers that girls regulate and are regulatedand are regulated

Dirty Writing, Dirty gamesDirty Writing, Dirty games Strong incentive to create an "other" for Strong incentive to create an "other" for

working class girls working class girls ‘‘Other’ girls made to carry the 'bad' bits of Other’ girls made to carry the 'bad' bits of

femininity". femininity". heterosexual desire heterosexual desire "dirty writing" of girls reminds us that it's "dirty writing" of girls reminds us that it's

not so much that boys play "dirty little not so much that boys play "dirty little games" and girls don't (Fine, 1989; Thorne games" and girls don't (Fine, 1989; Thorne & Luria, 1986), but that boys' dirty games & Luria, 1986), but that boys' dirty games are permitted within public spheres and are permitted within public spheres and girls' must be done in private Igirls' must be done in private I

Otherness, transgression and Otherness, transgression and normalisationnormalisation

a whole discourse among the girls about girls as a whole discourse among the girls about girls as predators predators

"ventriloquated" voices of girls mimic masculinized "ventriloquated" voices of girls mimic masculinized discourse.discourse.

girls make sense of themselves against other girls but girls make sense of themselves against other girls but "not in conditions of their own choosing". "not in conditions of their own choosing".

Policing of transgressionPolicing of transgression girls internalise and act out hierarchies of domination girls internalise and act out hierarchies of domination

and collude in their own own devaluing. and collude in their own own devaluing. Messages from 'outside' value systems are encoded in Messages from 'outside' value systems are encoded in

the relationships girls set up with each other. the relationships girls set up with each other. Male meanings and put downs are available as ways of Male meanings and put downs are available as ways of

punishing 'transgressive' friendships are disciplinary. punishing 'transgressive' friendships are disciplinary. This is a central part of the way that they form their This is a central part of the way that they form their

identities.identities.

Conclusion.Conclusion. Groups defined in relation to an out-group.Groups defined in relation to an out-group. Mary Douglas, ‘Matter out of Place’Mary Douglas, ‘Matter out of Place’ Getting rid of the otherGetting rid of the other What Freud called the narcissism of minor What Freud called the narcissism of minor

differences. : minor, not major , diffs lead to the differences. : minor, not major , diffs lead to the bitterest disputes. Inflated into lethally competing bitterest disputes. Inflated into lethally competing fictional identities.fictional identities.

Hatred of 'otherness'. Hatred of 'otherness'. The group bond is often constructed around hatred of The group bond is often constructed around hatred of

an out group an out group As Freud puts it " it is always possible to bind As Freud puts it " it is always possible to bind

together a considerable number of people in love so together a considerable number of people in love so long as 'as are other people left over to receive the long as 'as are other people left over to receive the manifestations of their aggressiveness'manifestations of their aggressiveness'

Minor not major differences a source of antagonism.Minor not major differences a source of antagonism.