Abstract
In response to the suggestion of treating identity as a historically bound notion (Matusov and Smith Integrative Psychological
and Behavioral Science 46, 2012), its genealogy is further explored. First establishing that identity has been understood in a particular personal way, and
that genealogy might carry beyond this conception, as it also carries beyond the notions of class and adolescence that are
used to contextualize identity. Then opting for treating historically bound notions as dynamic, studying them in the continuous
interaction between conceptualization and practice, as processes and verbs rather than essences and substantives. Finally
suggesting to dissociate identity from selfhood by looking at why, when and to whom we need to identify ourselves and also
inverting the question: why and when do we ask others to identify themselves? After all, sameness and difference are two sides
of a coin called identity, and what is looked at is a matter of how it is looked at.
and Behavioral Science 46, 2012), its genealogy is further explored. First establishing that identity has been understood in a particular personal way, and
that genealogy might carry beyond this conception, as it also carries beyond the notions of class and adolescence that are
used to contextualize identity. Then opting for treating historically bound notions as dynamic, studying them in the continuous
interaction between conceptualization and practice, as processes and verbs rather than essences and substantives. Finally
suggesting to dissociate identity from selfhood by looking at why, when and to whom we need to identify ourselves and also
inverting the question: why and when do we ask others to identify themselves? After all, sameness and difference are two sides
of a coin called identity, and what is looked at is a matter of how it is looked at.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Regular Article
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s12124-012-9201-3
- Authors
- Floor van Alphen, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Journal Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science
- Online ISSN 1936-3567
- Print ISSN 1932-4502