Understanding Identity - Audio

A short introduction to this album

Definitions of identity, the existence of personal and social identity and the way in which concepts of identity have changed.

Identities are formed by society and by individuals. Identities are created by people’s responses to us and our reactions to those responses.

Ability to change our identities and how this has been influenced by developments in technology. Constraint of external factors.

Belonging to a group; the importance of viewing identity in terms of similarity as well as difference.

What 'natural' means in the context of food and the market for human organs.

Animal organ transplants, ambivalent attitudes to animals, and their relation to human society.

The increasing importance of risk assessment due to the developments of science and technology.

Risk assessments may be based on inaccurate models which give misleading results ending in disaster. Taking social as well as natural into account when performing risk assessment may provide more accurate results.

Public mistrust of government experts and the importance of transparency in building trust. Experts need an understanding of natural and social factors.

There is a need for 'experts' with specialist knowledge to make decisions but democracy means demanding accountability. An inter-disciplinary approach is considered essential to study of risk. Interest groups would be beneficial.

he increasing visibility of different races and ethnicities in all aspects of British life. Is this trend is likely to continue or whether a kind of ‘English ethnicity’ assert itself?

The implications of race and ethnicity for racism.

Investgating the Stephen Lawrence murder case . Change in attitude is the responsibility of both public institutions and private individuals

Young people’s perceptions of identity may hold the key to understanding issues of race and ethnicity in Britain.