This research paper will focus on multiple different factors that can have a significant influence on the way a person’s identity develops and what it develops into. The factors that will be covered in this research paper are as follows: race, gender, name, and Need for Cognition (NFC). The following applies specifically to African Americans in studies, though most racial groups have shown to go through a similar process. Race is a factor that influences a person’s identity in 5 distinct stages. These stages go in the order of Pre-encounter, Encounter, Immersion-Emersion, Internalization, and Internalization-commitment(Akos, P., & Ellis, C. M.. 2008.).
During the Pre-encounter stage, race plays only a small role in a person’s identity development.
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Pride and confidence is instilled in a person’s subconscious in the next stages, Internalization and Internalization-commitment(Akos, P., & Ellis, C. M.. 2008.).
The next influence on the development of a person’s identity is gender. Gender does not have a meaningful impact on children until they reach approximately the age of four. From the ages of four to seven, children see gender as a definitive aspect of a person and force themselves and others to conform to their respective gender norms(Kerr, B. A., & Multon, K. D..
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E. (2015). Names in Psychological Science: Investigating the Processes of Thought Development and the Construction of Personal Identities. Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science, 50(2), 277-295. doi:10.1007/s12124-015-9326-2
Need for Cognition as a Predictor of Psychosocial Identity Development
Njus, D., & Johnson, D. R. (2008). Need for Cognition as a Predictor of Psychosocial Identity Development. The Journal of Psychology, 142(6), 645-655. doi:10.3200/jrlp.142.6.645-655
The Development of Gender Identity, Gender Roles, and Gender Relations in Gifted Students
Kerr, B. A., & Multon, K. D. (2015). The Development of Gender Identity, Gender Roles, and Gender Relations in Gifted Students. Journal of Counseling & Development, 93(2), 183-191. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6676.2015.00194.x
Racial Identity Development in Middle School: A Case for School Counselor Individual and Systemic Intervention.
Akos, P., & Ellis, C. M. (2008). Racial Identity Development in Middle School: A Case for School Counselor Individual and Systemic Intervention. Journal of Counseling & Development, 86(1), 26-33.