Labels and the Self: Identity Labels as Scaffold.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Clinical Practice

Background:

• Patients increasingly use diverse self-labels (e.g., neurodiverse, genderfluid, ADHD) in clinical introductions.
• These labels function as concise summaries of identity, feelings, attitudes, or behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the multifaceted functions of self-adopted labels in patient self-presentation.
• To analyze how these labels are "found" and utilized by individuals, beyond formal diagnoses.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of clinical vignettes and theoretical exploration of self-labeling phenomena.
• Utilizing scaffolding as a metaphor to understand label functions.

Main Results:

• Identified six key functions of self-labels: mirrored reflection, creative defense, play, container for the unknown, calling into being, and collective dream image.
• Demonstrated the clinical utility of understanding these self-labeling functions through composite sketches.

Conclusions:

• Self-labels are dynamic tools individuals use for identity formation and psychological processing.
• Understanding the diverse functions of self-labels enhances clinical insight and therapeutic engagement.