Cognitive Strategies for Reconciling Personal Identity and Societal Expectations
Personal identity is the sense of self that an individual holds within themselves. It includes their values, beliefs, interests, preferences, attitudes, personality traits, and characteristics. Societal expectations are the cultural norms, standards, and ideals that society expects individuals to uphold. These may be related to appearance, behavior, speech, dress, education, work, family life, religion, and more.
Reconciliation refers to the process of bringing together two seemingly disparate things or ideas. In this context, it means integrating one's personal identity with societal expectations. This can be challenging because there is often tension between the two, as people may have different views on what they value and believe.
Cognitive strategies can help individuals navigate this tension and find a balance between their own identities and the demands of society.
Cognitive strategies involve using mental processes to evaluate and manage information. They include thinking about thoughts, emotions, and behaviors; analyzing situations and decision-making; problem-solving and planning; managing time and resources; making predictions and judgments; and setting goals and priorities. By applying these strategies, individuals can reconcile their personal identities with societal expectations in three ways:
1) Understanding Cultural Values and Norms
To begin the reconciliation process, individuals need to understand the cultural values and norms that shape their society. This requires research, observation, and reflection on the various aspects of culture such as language, religion, social class, race, gender, sexuality, ability, age, occupation, education, and geography.
An individual who wants to wear pants instead of a skirt in public spaces may look into the historical roots of this clothing choice, how it relates to their religious beliefs or socioeconomic status, and its impact on social interactions. This helps them appreciate the reasons why some cultural practices are valued while others are not, which allows for more informed decisions.
2) Evaluating Personal Beliefs and Ideologies
Once individuals understand the cultural context, they should examine their own values and ideologies. This involves reflecting on what they hold dear, considering the reasons behind their choices, and challenging any assumptions that contradict societal norms. It also involves evaluating their reactions to different cultural practices, recognizing any biases or prejudices, and exploring alternative perspectives. By doing this, individuals can come up with a list of core beliefs that align with both their own identity and the society's expectations.
3) Developing Coping Mechanisms
Individuals may encounter situations where they must balance conflicting demands between their personal identity and societal expectations. In these cases, cognitive strategies help them develop coping mechanisms to manage the tension. Examples include self-reflection, empathy, communication, assertiveness, and compromise. Self-reflection involves identifying one's feelings and emotions before responding to external pressures. Empathy entails putting oneself in another person's shoes to better understand their perspective. Assertiveness means expressing one's needs without being aggressive or passive. Compromise is negotiating solutions that satisfy everyone involved.
Cognitive strategies facilitate reconciliation of personal identity and societal expectations by helping individuals navigate the tensions between the two. By understanding cultural values and norms, evaluating their own beliefs and ideologies, and developing coping mechanisms, individuals can create an integrated sense of self that respects both themselves and others.