The subject of identity is fascinating to me. It is such a fluid and abstract concept that it is hard to define. I think because of its fluidity, it is also hard to develop completely since it can change depending on social contexts. Being half Japanese, I know that the Japanese culture of my grandparents has had a large part in the development of my sense of identity. I learned in a psychology class that American females who are half white and half a cultural minority identify more with the minority than they do with the Caucasian half. The first part of Rickson’s article helped explain that statement for me when she explained that in a study conducted by Tatum, “The students noticed aspects of their identity that others noticed, things that were exceptional through other people’s eyes.” Therefore, I have been able to shape my identity through my Japanese heritage because others notice it as a distinguishing factor. Of course this is not the only factor that has shaped my identity. Another context in which I am still developing my identity is as a music therapist and I am still evaluating how my identity is shaped by that role.
I appreciate that Rickson confirms that as music therapists, it is important for us to evaluate our personal identity and the values that go along with it in order for us to provide a stable environment for our clients. I would like to expand on this idea a little. Clients needing music therapy are in need of help in some area of their life. Our role as a therapist is very specific in this certain social context—to help meet the needs of our client. Since our identity can vary based on social contexts, I think it is safe to assume that we will have a certain identity within the context of a music therapy session. Not to say that our values change, but since identity is substantially formed by the way we are viewed by other people, we will be viewed as a therapist and will therefore assume this identity. Our identity as a therapist should allow us to fully focus on the client’s needs and not those of our own. For this reason, I believe that it is important and necessary to do introspective exercises that allow us to view the state of our emotions, values, and psychological being which are factors that help shape our identity in any context. In this way, we can work through and be aware of any instability that might be hindering our ability to view a situation without projecting our own needs onto the client.
About Sarah Seo
Biography
Music therapy student at Georgia College and State University
The subject of identity is fascinating to me. It is such a fluid and abstract concept that it is hard to define. I think because of its fluidity, it is also hard to develop completely since it can change depending on social contexts. Being half Japanese, I know that the Japanese culture of my grandparents has had a large part in the development of my sense of identity. I learned in a psychology class that American females who are half white and half a cultural minority identify more with the minority than they do with the Caucasian half. The first part of Rickson’s article helped explain that statement for me when she explained that in a study conducted by Tatum, “The students noticed aspects of their identity that others noticed, things that were exceptional through other people’s eyes.” Therefore, I have been able to shape my identity through my Japanese heritage because others notice it as a distinguishing factor. Of course this is not the only factor that has shaped my identity. Another context in which I am still developing my identity is as a music therapist and I am still evaluating how my identity is shaped by that role.
I appreciate that Rickson confirms that as music therapists, it is important for us to evaluate our personal identity and the values that go along with it in order for us to provide a stable environment for our clients. I would like to expand on this idea a little. Clients needing music therapy are in need of help in some area of their life. Our role as a therapist is very specific in this certain social context—to help meet the needs of our client. Since our identity can vary based on social contexts, I think it is safe to assume that we will have a certain identity within the context of a music therapy session. Not to say that our values change, but since identity is substantially formed by the way we are viewed by other people, we will be viewed as a therapist and will therefore assume this identity. Our identity as a therapist should allow us to fully focus on the client’s needs and not those of our own. For this reason, I believe that it is important and necessary to do introspective exercises that allow us to view the state of our emotions, values, and psychological being which are factors that help shape our identity in any context. In this way, we can work through and be aware of any instability that might be hindering our ability to view a situation without projecting our own needs onto the client.