Cyberspace and Identity
Identity is viewed as the combination of one's original characteristics. Identity is also viewed as one's inner-self; unique, liberated, and unaffected by outside influence. Often, but falsely, the inner-self is viewed as Freud described it, as one complete idea that does not hold conflicting or contradicting ideals. Recently, research has been conducted illustrating that one's identity does not have to be unitary. Not only is it normal and acceptable to have an inner-self that is multifaceted, it is also psychologically healthy as a versatile identity allows one to experiment with forms of personal expression. This topic "of identity in terms of multiplicity and flexibility" discussed in Sherry Turkle's "Cyberspace and Identity" opposes Freud's view that the self is affixed and uses the examples of present technology and different means of learning to convey this perspective.
Identity is formed through a variety of different aspects. Past experience, challenges, and consequences all help mold the inner-self.
Sigmund Freud, founder of psychoanalysis, smoking ...
Group of Woodbine Agricultural School students, Wo...
Auburn University students at ASAP conferenceAs Turkle explains, during the sixties it was thought that one's college years were the time for the experimentation and the development of one's core self. This notion is dated; "the idea of the college years as a consequence-free 'time out' seems of another era." Nowadays, college is viewed as a "pre-professional" time period. College students are supposed to be mature and aware of their direction in life; however, they enroll in classes while they are still in their teenage years. While forced to design a plan to follow for the rest of their life, college students attempt to cling to the carefree Van Wilder ideal that college was previously based on. This pressure and conflict in college forces the issue of identity to be dealt with at an earlier age than in the past.
High School is now the most intense...