Identity

Abstract

This chapter tells the story of the North Pond Hermit who lived without social contact for 30 years and the subsequent effect on his identity. As a result of his severe social isolation, Christopher Thomas Knight lost his bearings on where he fit into society and how he should interact with others. The freedom he gained in not being defined came at the cost of becoming disjointed from the world around him. The way social labels and multiple group memberships define personal identity can be understood by the Twenty Statements Test and is brought to life through the case study of Tim Fischer, the former head of diversity and inclusion at Marathon Oil, a company where the average employee is said to “bleed blue.” Identity is in constant flux and, as such, shared identities should be enjoyed for as long as they last.