Associate professor in the Department of Psychology & Neuroscience at Duke University and Cook Center Faculty Affiliate Dr. Sarah Gaither has been featured in The Guardian for her insights on the complexities of identity development. Her commentary provides an understanding of how a person’s identity is shaped by influences and experiences throughout their life.
“Identity development is an extremely complex process that’s influenced by a variety of factors,” Gaither explained. “These include where you’re living, messages your parents, peers or teachers give you, and encounters and experiences where someone may question you or notice something different about you. Usually, these encounters cause someone to go and learn about whatever that identity or difference may be. They either accept that part of themselves by learning to internalize it, or decide that the identity doesn’t match their sense of self.”
“As humans, we all have a fundamental need to socially belong,” she says. “It’s that feeling you belong to a group that gives you a sense of identity and wholeness. And importantly, people’s identities often change across the lifespan.”
Read the full article here.
