Constructs of Identity Essay
Added on 2020-05-16
10 Pages2687 Words289 Views
Running head: AGENCY, STRUCTURE AND IDENTITY CONSTRUCTIONAgency, structure and Identity ConstructionName of the studentName of the UniversityAuthor note
1AGENCY, STRUCTURE AND IDENTITY CONSTRUCTIONIntroductionIdentity Construction is an important part of that of the human species. Theconstruction of identity involves that of life experiences, connections along with thatof relationships. Structure is indicative of the recurrent arrangements that limit thechoices along with opportunities of an individual (Burkitt, 2016, pp 136). Agencyrefers to the capacity of that of the individuals so that they can act independently andmake free choices. The debate of structure and agency illuminates on the factorwhether the individual acts as that of a free agent or they are controlled by that ofsocial structure. This essay elaborates regarding the fact whether the individuals inthe modern era make their own experiences or are they controlled by that of socialstructure.DiscussionAgency states that the behaviour of an individual is owing to their own freechoices and it portrays the individual as an “embodied actor”. It lays emphasis on theconcept of individualism. Individualism is a social outlook that focuses on the arenaof human independence and portrays the importance of liberty. Agency can be well-explained by using the Great Man Theory of Thomas Carlyle who was a Scottishwriter. According to this theory, history is largely shaped by that of the impact ofindividuals who are highly influential. With the help of their charisma and intelligence,they played an effective role in the society and they made use of their power tocreate a decisive historical impact (Sztompka, 2014, pp 64). This theory wascontradicted by that of Herbert Spencer who said that the great men were productsof that of the society. According to Carlyle heroes were responsible for shapinghistory by making use of their personal attributes. Giddens has stated that people
2AGENCY, STRUCTURE AND IDENTITY CONSTRUCTIONare not ‘cultural dupes’ but that they act intentionally (Giddens et al., 2016, pp 192).Human beings can be deemed to be reflexive agents who act on the basis of theirown interpretation of a particular situation (Mitnick, 2015, pp 92). Self-identity can besaid to be reflexive understanding of that of their own biographies. Structure on theother hand lays emphasis on the structural factors that or that of social institutionsthat play a pivotal role in the shaping of the individuals in the society. Social structureconsists of rules along with practices. Social structure is embodied in the actions andbeliefs of the human beings. The social structure can organize the behaviour ofvarious actors. The social structure can help in assigning power to that of theindividual actors (Strasser, 2014, pp 146 ).The theory of Hegel states that dialectics of history can be realized by findinga “ great man” who is capable of laying forward his wills. It states that structure alongwith agency enters into the domain of each other. According to the Hegeliandoctrine, time has not yet come to the point of consciousness itself and personalcontribution is necessary for the perfect realization of time. The “charismaticlegitimation” professed by that of Max Webber states the phenomena of indeliblepenetration of that of social and that of the agency (Giddens et al., 2016, pp 149).Charisma can be said to be a form in relation to authority that is socially-structured.The socially-specified qualities can be deemed to be personal and everybody doesnot possess them. The primary among these qualities can be said to be agency thatwants to throw out that of the precedent and reframe the rules.It has been found that children who grow up with that of the animals adopt thenature along with behaviour of the particular animal. There are incidences of wildchildren who grew up with that of the wolves. Wolves are quite intelligent and theythink of the orphaned children like their own pups. Children who grow up amidst wild
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