As I continue on my path of musicking and social identity, this week I want to zoom out a bit more and explore both how we fit in with others and on a more collective level.
Brewer and Gardner’s theory on the self and social identity suggests how our self-concept exists on three levels, being the individual self (personal identity), the relational self (identity derived from close relationships), and the collective self (identity tied to larger social groups). This framework is especially relevant to musicians, as we often operate within various social contexts, from solo practice to collaborative performances and public engagements. Each level of identity can impact a musician’s mental health in many nuanced ways, depending on the pressures, expectations, and the dynamics involved.
At the individual level, we can derive our identity from personal attributes, skills, and achievements. This part of our identity can be linked to our self-esteem and self-worth and is based on individual accomplishments and standards. When we place high demands on ourselves, striving for perfection or recognition, we can experience anxiety, self-doubt, burnout and a host of other struggles. Conversely, meeting personal goals or feeling proud of our progress can boost our self-esteem and positively impact mental health (similar to the previous theory in last week’s blog).
The relational self reflects our identity in regard to close relationships, such as mentors, bandmates or family members (people who know us on a deeper level). As musicians we can often rely on these relationships for emotional support, feedback, and guidance (even in the synthetic world of social media). These positive, supportive relationships can help our mental health by providing validation, companionship, and encouragement, helping us to cope with struggles, stress or setbacks. However, if these same relationships are tense or fraught with competition or conflict it can lead to stress and self-doubt that will undoubtably impact mental health negatively.
The third area of the collective self involves identification with broader social groups, such as the music community, genre-specific subcultures, or fanbases. Being part of a collective can provide a sense of belonging and purpose, which supports mental health by reducing feelings of isolation (such as a peer group). However, we can also feel pressure to conform to the expectations or values of these musical communities, which can create stress, anxiety, and a sense of inadequacy if we feel they do not fully fit in. In the case of a peer group this is mitigated through the use of a facilitator who is clinically trained.
In all, balancing all of these different identities can be a real challenge, with the heavy toll largely depending on a musician’s ability to navigate and reconcile these various aspects of the self. So, with this in mind, perhaps a Tonic Rider Peer Support Group could be helpful?
Adam Ficek hosts a monthly show 'Tonic Music' on Totally Wired Radio, where he talks to various guests about music and mental health. You can listen again to any of the previous show on the Tonic Music Mixcloud page.
