Glossary Entries By Carine Kanawati

Identity

Identity is a concept weightily discussed in the social sciences and defined as a set of characteristics that describe a person or group. It is considered as either a concept, construct, or question that has multiple definitions (Albert, 1998). Definitions of identity evolve from Erik Erikson’s concept of identity crisis that suggests how individuals can be at odds with how they view themselves as individuals with thoughts, behaviors, characteristics, goals, and more (Fearon, 1999). Several Hollywood movies portrayed the concept of identity and identity crises, like Enemy (2013) and Shutter Island (2010). Social psychology is one of the realms that focused on defining identity, and the concept in this field is considered the relationship between the person and his environment expressed through questions like “Who am I, who are they, and what is our relationship” (Chryssochoou, 2003). Moreover, sociological definitions viewed identity as a social construct, whereby identity is created from a set of societal hegemonic ideologies (Bardill, 2014). Sociology suggests that identity relies on external forces that shape and control it, making an individual the object of its environment. Philosophy is also a field that contributed to defining identity, suggesting that it is considered a set of questions that an individual has about himself, and only by answering it can he achieve his personal identity (Olsen, 2019).

References

Albert, S. (1998). Metadefinition of Identity. Identity in organizations: Building theory through conversations, 1.

Bardill, J. (2014). Identity as socially constructed: an objection to individual change. AJOB Neuroscience, 5(1), 19-20.

Chryssochoou, X. (2003). Studying identity in social psychology: Some thoughts on the definition of identity and its relation to action. Journal of language and Politics, 2(2), 225-241.

Fearon, J. D. (1999). What is identity (as we now use the word). Unpublished manuscript, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.

Olson, E. T. (2019, September 6). Personal identity. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved April 2, 2022, from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/identity-personal/

Desire

Desire is a philosophical concept that is considered a problem for the field in terms of understanding human nature and consciousness. The concept is understood through the lens of different philosophy theorists that aimed at understanding how philosophy plays a role in areas like psychoanalysis for example (Fuery, 1995).  Airaksinen (2014) suggested that desire can be defined analytically, empirically, and existentially. Desire is analytically defined as related to individuals’ actions and motives, relating what humans need and what they desire. An empirical perspective of desire is how it is a concept that changes with historically and culturally. Moreover, an existential definition of desire is how it determines what makes us happy or anxious. Nevertheless, Aristotle and Plato were two famous philosophers that defined desire. According to Aristotle, desire is what determines an individual’s decision to do good and achieve virtue (Irwin, 1976). However, he specifies that he is not referring to the desire that aims for pleasure, but instead rational desires that aim for virtue. Psychologist also defined desire from their field’s lens, which stems from Freud. Freud defined desire as the core of human unconsciousness, driving most of our thoughts, emotions, and behavior (De Battista, 2017). The vintage film ‘Sisters’ derives from Freud’s desire definition and portrays how desire for pleasure was denied by one character for the purpose of virtue yet was later killed by the lead actress.

References

Airaksinen, T. (2014). An Introduction to Desire. Homo Oeconomicus, 31(4).

De Battista, J. (2017). Lacanian concept of desire in analytic clinic of psychosis. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 563.

Fuery, P. (1995). Theories of desire.

Irwin, T. H. (1976). Aristotle on reason, desire, and virtue. The Journal of Philosophy, 72(17), 567-578.

Otherness

 Otherness is simply defined as being different from someone else, and it linked itself in philosophy and sociology to be defined as something more complex.  According to sociology, otherness is not merely related to being different, but it is a more complex process by which a superior group creates ‘other’ groups inferior to it through stigmatizing the difference (Staszak, 2009). Marginalizing certain groups of people, or even nations, as Others is constructed by these dominant groups that have power and authority. Van Pelt (2000) offers a philosophical definition for otherness that dates back to Plato who devised the individualistic definition of the One and the Other. The one is the individual’s identity, and the other is the alterity. The concept of otherness has been displayed in multiple Hollywood movies due to its humanitarian consequence of marginalization and stigma. Planas (2013) discussed how the film “Yvy Maraey” talks about indigenous Latin Americans produced by Juan Carlos Valdivia who is not from their culture, symbolizing the concept of otherness. The latter film displays an ‘Other’ civilization, the producer does not display the stigma that is usually found in Hollywood movies that portray non-Western cultures as uncivilized.

References

Planas, J. (2013). Movies from the Dimensions of Otherness. Fipresci . Retrieved April 3, 2022, from https://fipresci.org/report/movies-from-the-dimensions-of-otherness/

Staszak, J. F. (2009). Other/otherness.

Van Pelt, T. (2000). Otherness. Postmodern Culture, 10(2).

Power

Power is understood as a concept that is displayed in the social sciences and politics. The concept of power was defined by Dahl (1957) as a concept that is related to relationships between people and is synonymous to control or influence. That being said, power is a concept that is understood through context, rather than an empirical definition that can be defined. Moreover, Martin (1971) defined power is a notable influence exercised by someone, but it is not as simple as some sociologists take it. He asserted that Max Weber had the most impactful outlook on power and considered it the position of one person in a relationship that gives him authority over imposing his will regardless of the other person. Thus, the best way to understand power is how it consists of obligation and oppression despite resistance. Several films portrayed the concept of power as defined formerly. A significant portrayal of power is in the 2006 movie “All the King’s Men” where the lead turns from being an honest virtuous lawyer that rises to power and finds himself contributing to corruption. The place of authority gave him this ability to impose and corrupt despite being a once humble and honest man.

References

Dahl, R. A. (1957). The concept of power. Behavioral science, 2(3), 201-215.

Martin, R. (1971). The concept of power: A critical defence. The British Journal of Sociology, 22(3), 240-256.