Human Nature in Self-Identity Construct: A Meta-ethnography Study

Abstract

The development of identity theories in psychology tends to be partial and incoherent, and are followed by various problems. This study uses meta-ethnography to deconstruct theories of self-identity in order to find common threads and relation between theories, including main theories on identity (Erikson’s; Marcia’s), and other related theories (Berzonsky’s, Grotevant’s, Waterman’s, McAdams’s), This study uses Hofstede's (2001) view on identity theories, and formulates a fundamental and comprehensive conceptualization of identity theory. This study formulates a model of the layers of identity which includes the identity of (1) human nature, (2) personal, and (3) social. This study also explains the dynamics of the self as ‘I’ and ‘Me’ in the formation of identity. This study discusses human nature in the discourse of identity and this provides further implications in the field of developmental psychology and educational psychology.

Constructing the 'Self' in Islamic Psychology: Challenges and Opportunities

“…Abu-Raiya and Pargament (2011) states that common studies on Islamic psychology were conducted using survey design, while there is a need for more varied research methods, particularly using qualitative approach. Such qualitative studies on the Self have been conducted, for example the study from Riyono et al (2012) who used meta-ethnography as one of his methods to build the theory of human motivation and personality, Rothman (2020) who used grounded research to develop the model of the soul, Fachrunisa and Chizanah (2020) who used discourse analysis to develop the dynamics model of nafs, and Fachrunisa and Riyono (2023) who used meta-ethnography to construct the model of self-identity. Further consideration of this qualitative approach is about finding the fittest philosophical foundations of each method to dig the latent concept of the Self in Islam.…”

“…However, the opportunity to conduct this kind of study is widely open. Recent psychological studies are discussing the universal characteristic of human beings (Fachrunisa & Riyono, 2023;Henriques, 2011) due to many existing humanity problems on society which are influenced by the belief that human being is unique, have no universalities, and some beings are better than others, such as in the form of war, discrimination, ethnic cleansing, violence, and other similar problems. The universal characteristic of human being is also stated in Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) (United Nations, 2015).…”

“…Some social problems also emerge as the consequence on lacking comprehensive understanding of the Self, such as stereotype and discrimination. A study with this kind of concern has been conducted by Fachrunisa & Riyono (2023).…”