Individuation

Individuation refers to the emergence of a person's differentiated identity in relation to the larger group of individuals with whom he or she is situated. From an onlooker's perspective, a person becomes individuated whenever he or she begins to be recognized as a unique person within a larger [Page 395]crowd, not only as a result of physical location or appearance but mostly as a result of the person's habits, character, and personality. To be differentiated from the group, a person must have, at one time, been considered part of that particular group. Under most circumstances, a person does not enter into a group as an individuated person; this emergence occurs as a function and by-product of group interaction that takes place over a length of time. In some ways, the progression toward individuation is counterintuitive because to become differentiated, a person must first submit and adopt some of the habits and characteristics found within the larger group. Only through placing one's focus of attention upon the needs of the larger group can a person emerge as an individuated person within the larger context.

The contemporary understanding of individuation is greatly influenced by the study of psychology, specifically the work of Carl Gustav Jung. Although this particular approach to understanding the term dominates current discussions, a wider understanding that includes a philosophical perspective, including the organizational dynamics of the marketplace, contributes to a more holistic conception of the term. The work of Jürgen Habermas provides a philosophical understanding of individuation as it occurs through socialization and firmly places this concept within the public sphere of society.

Typically there are three phases that a person will experience as he or she moves toward individuation. Phase 1 is when a person joins or enters a group and has his or her individuality eclipsed by the larger group or society with which he or she takes part. To move beyond this phase, a person must recognize that the organization or group preexisted his or her individual involvement and therefore must submit to the dominant practices of the group. Phase 2 occurs as a person is socialized into, and situated within, the larger group or society as he or she internalizes the implicit or explicit expectations and converts them to appropriate habits and actions. Within this phase, the person begins to sense that he or she is “one of them,” and the members of the group begin to regard him or her as “one of us”; although this is a necessary stage to pass through to fully achieve individuation, some may never move beyond this point. Failing to move beyond this point can have a negative impact upon a person's ability to productively interact and contribute to the larger whole. Phase 3, the achievement of individuation, takes place as the individual is firmly established within the organization. The person's identity emerges as a by-product of engagement with those who are part of the group, not by placing the focus of attention upon the self but by actively contributing to the common purpose of the group. Building upon the foundation offered by Habermas, the following examples provide a brief portrait of what individuation looks like within an academic and a marketplace setting.

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