Features of identity

1. Features of identity Starting from da Fina, Schiffrin, et al, 2006,

2. What social constructionism assumes: Identity construction is a process that • takes place in concrete interactions • yields constellations, repertoires, not single or monolithic constructs • results from social processes of negotiation • is embedded in social practices that frame how people position themselves • incorporates categorization and membership definition (Introduction, 2-3)

3. Identities are performed • Identities are ‘acts’ – they are enacted and embodied through linguistic and non-linguistic means • Identities are ‘anti-essentialist’: that is, people can perform identities that differ from ‘visible characteristics’ and they can display ‘polyphonous’ identities – they can present voices associated with different identity categories • Researchers often use Conversation Analysis or Critical Discourse Analysis to locate identity-work and face-work

4. Identity reinforcement in all kinds of places Cohen-Mansfield et al, 2006: The Gerontologist 46. Dressing of cognitively impaired nursing home residents Purpose: Getting dressed is an activity that is of particular difficulty for many persons with dementia, given the need for hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and overall planning skills. Despite several studies concerning interventions to improve dressing behavior, very little is known about the dressing process as it is currently performed. The purpose of this study is to characterize the dressing activity of daily living (ADL) of nursing home residents suffering from dementia and thereby identify ways to improve the dressing process. Design and Methods: We analyzed videotapes of dressing of 20 special care unit residents to describe the dressing process and the interaction between residents and staff members. Results: Staff members completely dressed the residents in the majority of cases. Interaction between the staff members and the residents was considered insufficient in most sessions. Implications: The study identified possible intervention techniques, assistive devices, organizational routines, and environmental changes that may improve the dressing process. The results have implications that nursing homes may consider in their policies, care activities, staff training, and environment to facilitate safety, comfort, and satisfaction during the dressing process.

5. Salient self Identity and agitation To date, little research has systematically explored the retention of self-identity in dementia and its potential use for the individualization of care. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of role-identity-based treatment for persons with dementia. We recruited a total of 93 elderly persons with dementia (mean Mini-Mental State Exam score = 10.58) for this study. Experimental (treatment) group participants were engaged in activities designed to correspond to each participant's most salient self-identity. The treatment group showed a significant increase in interest, pleasure, and involvement in activities, fewer agitated behaviors during treatment, and increased orientation in the treatment period. The experimental treatment had effects that were superior to those of the non-experimental activities. The results highlight the powerful roles that perception of self and fulfillment of self-identity play in overall well-being. Jiska Cohen-Mansfield, Aleksandra Parpura-Gill and Hava Golander 2004: Utilization of Self-Identity Roles for Designing Interventions for Persons With Dementia. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 61:P202-P212 (2006)

6. Closing the circle: salient self-identity Ellemers et al 2002. Self & Social Identity. AnnRevPsych 53:161-86