Defining Oneself by a Child in the Process of Identity Education

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present complexity of the process of human identity formation in changing social environment. Identity is presented as a structure of stratificational personal qualities. In the end, it has an onion-type form, where following layers are characterized by oneway closure – it is difficult to interfere in formerly created inner layers and simultaneously it is possible to transpose from them the identity features to a new outer layer that is created. In the timeline of such superstructure of identity, the childhood is particularly important, as the time when the child is creating a concept of own personal identity through cognitive processes. It is a close and stable construct in the target structure of individual identity, which is difficult to be changed subsequently. Therefore, this period of identity formation should be supported by conscious socializing influence – identity education that stimulates self-reflection and leads to selfdetermination referring to creation of the child's self-image. In this way, it is guaranteed that the young people are prepared to deal with challenges of contemporary world in their further life.