INDENTITY AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: INDIVIDUAL IN COMMUNITY

In: International journal on world peace, Band 14, Heft 4, S. 41-48

Abstract

THE COMMUNITY PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE FORMATION OF IDENTITY AND CHARACTER, AND THE CHARACTERS THAT ARE MOLDED WILL DETERMINE THE FUTURE EXISTENCE OF THE COMMUNITY. TRADITIONALLY, RITES OF PASSAGE HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED TO INSURE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL WILL BECOME A LOYAL, RESPONSIBLE, AND PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN. HOWEVER, IN TODAY'S SECULAR DEMOCRACIES, WHERE VALUES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE RELATIVIZED, MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE RAISED WITHOUT AN EQUIVALENT PASSAGE INTO RESPONSIBLE ADULTHOOD. TODAY'S SOCIETIES MUST LEARN WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH THE FUNCTION THAT RITES OF PASSAGE IN PREVIOUS SOCIETIES HAVE SERVED.