Identity may be defined as the distinctive characteristic
belonging to any given individual, or shared by all members of a
particular social category or group. The term comes from the French word
identité, which finds its linguistic roots in the Latin noun identitas, -tatis, itself a derivation of the Latin adjective idem
meaning "the same." The term is thus essentially comparative in nature,
as it emphasizes the sharing of a degree of sameness or oneness with
others in a particular area or on a given point.[citation needed]
Identity may be distinguished from identification; the former is a
label, whereas the latter refers to the classifying act itself. Identity
is thus best construed as being both relational and contextual, while
the act of identification is best viewed as inherently processual.[1]
However, the formation of one's identity occurs through one's
identifications with significant others (primarily with parents and
other individuals during one’s biographical experiences, and also with
'groups' as they are perceived). These others may be benign such that
one aspires to their characteristics, values and beliefs (a process of
idealistic-identification), or malign when one wishes to dissociate from
their characteristics (a process of defensive contra-identification)
(Weinreich & Saunderson 2003, Chapter 1, pp 54–61).
