The Concept of Identity: Developmental Origins, Phenomenology, Clinical Relevance, and Measurement

Abstract

The aim of this paper is a thorough explication of the concept of identity. We have synthesized the scattered psychiatric and psychoanalytic literature on the topic to shed light on the historical origins, development, phenomenology, clinical relevance, and methods of assessing identity. Our review revealed that: (1) The concept of identity has persisted over eight decades. (2) Identity originates in the earliest interplay of the infant's temperament with the mother's attitude, gains structure from primitive introjections, refines itself through later selective identifications, acquires filiation and generational continuity in passage through the Oedipus complex, and arrives at its more or less final shape through synthesis of contradictory identifications and greater individuation during adolescence. It remains subject to further refinements during young adulthood, midlife, and even old age. (3) A cohesive identity comprises a realistic body image, subjective self-sameness, consistent attitudes, temporality, gender, authenticity, and ethnicity. (4) Disturbance of identity suggests psychopathology, with greater identity disturbance being associated with more-severe conditions (e.g., severe personality disorders, multiple personality, psychosis). (5) Clinical and psychometric assessment is therefore relevant and might indicate treatment strategies and outcome expectations. Findings from the literature are elucidated, and areas needing further research are identified.

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“…At the same time, we think that we have verifi ed the importance of Akhtar's contribution to the understanding of the concept of identity, its development and phenomenology, its clinical relevance, and the development of specifi c methods to assess it (Akhtar and Samuel, 1996). More specifi cally, we have confi rmed the signifi cance of this conceptualization to understand some of the events that occur in connection with identity and the internet media.…”

“…Such people possess a repertoire of behaviors with congruous and predictable parameters (Akhtar and Samuel, 1996). They display character traits which are not contradictory or incompatible.…”

“…Although Akhtar and Samuel (1996) include ethnicity we have denominated this dimension as inner solidarity because in our country -Chile -the population shows cultural and ethnic homogeneity. People with healthy identities demonstrate an internalized value system, ideals, and personal convictions that are constant over time, so there is no real vulnerability to manipulation by demagogues or esoteric sects (Akhtar and Samuel, 1996).…”

Mirrors, body image and self

“…It is thought that body image is an important factor in the ability to integrate selfrepresentations and thereby establish a consolidated sense of identity [3,4]. Certain statements made by subjects with personality disorder (PD) in front of the mirror seem to point to the possibility that self-representations may be based on data or information from two different sources; internal proprioceptive data and external, perceptual data.…”

ABCDE in Clinical Encounters: Presentations of Self in Doctor-Patient Communication

“…7 Health care professionals with leanings toward Buddhist psychology might note an under-representation of the "we," the "non-self," and the interrelatedness of all in the construction of reality. 8 Those with philosophical perspectives from relational ethics and social constructivism might suggest that any appreciation of self is a result of, rather than an antecedent to, shared presence.…”