IDENTIFYING THE 5 BIG IDEAS Nature or nurture

Defining ourselves through others

The cost of belonging

Challenging and developing our identity

Choosing not to belong

DEFINING OURSELVES THROUGH OTHERS

Do you feel happier doing things alone or as part of a group?

Have you ever pretended to be something you are not in order to belong to a group or community?

KEY NOTES We all gain a sense of self

through our interaction with others.

Groups and communities can provide security, support and acceptance.

Humans are not solitary creatures by nature. We belong to families and to other groups.

Belonging to a group can carry with it a sense of privilege or exclusivity.

We don’t always choose the groups to which we belong.

Sometimes people are comfortable in the group and don’t challenge / question the values, ideals and attitudes.

Others reject them or are forced by some unexpected change or trauma to think about whether to continue to belong to the group.

Experiences of belonging aren’t the same for everyone.

Migrants or refugees who leave their homeland may find it difficult to achieve a sense of belonging in a new country.How can connections be maintained to

homeland?How do people find acceptance in new

communities?

ACTIVITIES In small groups:

Many people believe the clothes they wear, the brands they buy and the objects they own reflect an inner truth about themselves.

A) What do you think these objects tell other people about who you are?

B) Do they help or hinder you in making connections with others?