Love and External Forces
Ben Briones
Ms.Haddad
English 9: Period 6
February 15, 2012
The Impact of External and Internal Forces on One’s Identity
What is identity? If you look in the dictionary, it will tell you that identity is what identifies someone or something. But there is more to the meaning behind identity than what is said in the dictionary. Identity is complex and changes over time in response to two main factors. One factor that can mold one’s identity are the forces inside of you, internal forces. An example of an internal force is love. Our love and affection for someone or something can lead us to do things differently than a person who doesn’t have the same degree of love towards that person or object. The second main factor that can affect identity are external factors. External forces refer to the forces that are in our environment. An example of an external force that can affect one’s identity is a person. If a person matters to you a lot and you are trying to prevent something bad from happening to him or her, wouldn’t you stop at nothing to prevent it from happening? This urge to prevent something bad from happening to the person you care about would probably have an impression on your actions and overall identity. Bottom line, identity changes in response to both internal and external forces, meaning that one force does not outweigh the other. Both internal and external forces work together to form a person’s identity as they mature; therefore, identity is shaped by both external and internal forces.
Research proves that identity can be affected by external forces. In C. Seefeldt’s article Factors Affecting Social Development, he confirms that identity is shaped by external forces, more specifically, where we are raised, family, and school affect our development. In the article, the Seefeldt states that “Those exposed to domestic abuse, gang violence…do not feel safe or secure. Their insecurity will interfere with their total development…” meaning that children
Ms.Haddad
English 9: Period 6
February 15, 2012
The Impact of External and Internal Forces on One’s Identity
What is identity? If you look in the dictionary, it will tell you that identity is what identifies someone or something. But there is more to the meaning behind identity than what is said in the dictionary. Identity is complex and changes over time in response to two main factors. One factor that can mold one’s identity are the forces inside of you, internal forces. An example of an internal force is love. Our love and affection for someone or something can lead us to do things differently than a person who doesn’t have the same degree of love towards that person or object. The second main factor that can affect identity are external factors. External forces refer to the forces that are in our environment. An example of an external force that can affect one’s identity is a person. If a person matters to you a lot and you are trying to prevent something bad from happening to him or her, wouldn’t you stop at nothing to prevent it from happening? This urge to prevent something bad from happening to the person you care about would probably have an impression on your actions and overall identity. Bottom line, identity changes in response to both internal and external forces, meaning that one force does not outweigh the other. Both internal and external forces work together to form a person’s identity as they mature; therefore, identity is shaped by both external and internal forces.
Research proves that identity can be affected by external forces. In C. Seefeldt’s article Factors Affecting Social Development, he confirms that identity is shaped by external forces, more specifically, where we are raised, family, and school affect our development. In the article, the Seefeldt states that “Those exposed to domestic abuse, gang violence…do not feel safe or secure. Their insecurity will interfere with their total development…” meaning that children
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