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Apr 3, 2024

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Do We Need a Common National Identity? Capella University PSYC-FPX3540 - Fall 2 January 2024 In terms of social identity, it may sound like we need a dystopian beginning. Social identity is a fundamental aspect of human existence that shapes our beliefs, values, and
behaviors. This paper investigates the National Identity Argument and its implications for our cultures. The definition of national identity was endorsed by social psychologist, Henri Tajfel, who formulated social identity theory together with John Turner. “Social identity theory adopts this definition of national identity and suggests that the conceptualization of national identity includes both self-categorization and affect. There is no agreed definition of what constitutes National Identity.” Ozkirimili, Umut (2005) Citizenship by birth is the most common practice of appointing nationality. Birthplace determines your culture, beliefs and even your religion. These are only the beginnings of creating an identity. At a larger scale, Countries have researched the idea of a National Identity. In Countries like Japan, where it is a lifestyle, the national identity theory demonstrates that the Country supports safety, treats everyone within a standard of economic development and education. They have established social markers of acceptance, the criteria are language skills, shared genealogy, or adherence to social norms. “Defenders of national identity not only point out how pervasive and resilient such identities appear to be, but also suggest that societies whose members are united by means of them are able to achieve a range of desirable ends that would otherwise be unobtainable.” David Miller, Sunas Ali (2014) Naturally, the desire to fit in can be a powerful motivator for social change, it’s important to recognize that movements for equality are often driven by non-conformists who challenge the
status quo and push for change. As life offers conflicts and experiences, individuals may choose not to conform to social norms. The need for status, to defend what we love, customs, and traditions can sometimes contradict the theory of a national identity. I propose that the need for individuality can sometimes take precedence over the desire to fit in.” Home, where you’re from & where you are going. Being meaningful to others as well as belonging, acceptance, inclusion, all make up our sense of worthiness. Your upbringing makes up for your language, your food, your clothes… your home. You behave as the people around you are and how they tell you to be. This is called assimilation. As you grow into your own tastes, ideas and needs separation occurs. In the beginnings of defining who you are, you also distinguish the level of acceptance and differences you have with your immediate family. Even though growing brings changes, Integration is continuous. As your environment expands, you become part of a work culture, age culture, maybe even religious culture you also enter into marginalizing. Marginalization is the notion of other groups or people to be powerless or insignificant. By all means, it could be that you are in a group commonly marginalized, such as religious, political and class. To regain your sense of worthiness, transmutation begins. Transmutation is the survival skill adopted to maintain your place in society. This is a moment in life when an individual decides to change “home” or embrace it. We are all moving forward, Canadian psychologist John W. Berry proposed the process of adjustment and adaptation through cultures. Berry proposed a model of acculturation that categorizes individual adaptation strategies between two dimensions (Berry, 1992). The first
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dimension, defining the value of to remain as one’s identity and culture. The second dimension, accepting an identity as the host society. They both involve changes and challenges that may propel or hinder one from moving forward. Assimilation  occurs when individuals adopt the cultural norms of a dominant or host culture, over their original culture. Separation  occurs when individuals reject the dominant or host culture in favor of preserving their culture of origin. Separation is often facilitated by immigration to ethnic enclaves. Integration  occurs when individuals are able to adopt the cultural norms of the dominant or host culture while maintaining their culture of origin. Integration leads to and is often synonymous with biculturalism. Marginalization  occurs when individuals reject both their culture of origin and the dominant host culture. Normally, we begin each phase of our lives as our authentic selves. Ideally, we would continue pursuing our goals and living our lives as we always have. However, as we face discrimination, vulnerabilities, disadvantages, or their opposites, opportunities, inclusion, and acceptance, we move to adapt and change not to conform.
Nationalism has been shown to create a sense of safety and security in societies that practice it. However, it’s important to ensure that nationalism does not lead to the exclusion of certain identities or the justification of discrimination against cultures. We can agree that individuality and national identity are not mutually exclusive. In fact, many societies have successfully balanced the two by promoting a sense of national identity while also allowing for individual expression and diversity. While individuality and national identity can coexist, ultimately individuals who are free to pursue their goals and interests have shaped the cultural acceptance we thrive on today. References Miller, D., & Ali, S. (2014). Testing the national identity argument. Political Science Review, 6(2), 237–259. Schildkraut, D.J., Boundaries of American identity: Evolving understandings of “Us”. Annual Review of Political Science, 17, 441–460.
Dovido, J. F., Gaertner, S. L., Ufkes, E. G., Saguy, T., & Pearson, A. R. (2016). Included but invisible? Subtle bias, common identity, and the darker side of "we." Social Issues and Policy Review, 10(1), 6–46. Bell, M. P., Leopold, J., Berry, D., & Hall, A. V. (2018). Diversity, discrimination, and persistent inequality: Hope for the future through the solidarity economy movement. Journal of Social Issues, 74(2), 224–243. González, M. J., Cortina, C., & Rodríguez, J. (2019). The role of gender stereotypes in hiring: A field experiment. European Sociological Review, 35(2), 187–204. Lui, P. P., & Quezada, L. (2019). Associations between microaggression and adjustment outcomes: A meta-analytic and narrative review. Psychological Bulletin, 145(1), 45–78. Berry’s Model of Acculturation – Culture and Psychology (maricopa.edu) Komisarof, A., Leon, C.-H., Lim, T., c, AbstractSocial markers of acceptance (SMA) are socially constructed criteria (e.g., Komisarof, A., Leong, C.-H., Phua, D., Zhirkov, K., Akaliyski, P., Armenta, B. M., Berry, J. W., Cameron, J. E., Debnar, M., Devos, T., Esses, V. M., Everitt, B. S., Fiske, S. T., Gieling, M., … Kiely, R. (2023, April 21). Constructions of Japanese national identity: Host views using a social markers of acceptance framework. International Journal of Intercultural Relations. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0147176723000548 Özkırımlı, Umut (2005). Contemporary Debates on Nationalism: A Critical Introduction. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 15. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00131857.2018.1434076
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