Identity Denial and Borrowing among Forced Migrants in Host Countries: A Discursive Psychological Perspective

This article explores identity formation, change and use of multiple identities among forced migrants. Theresearch, a longitudinal study lasting two years between 2009 and 2011, was conducted through interviews with,and observation of, five migrants. The use of the longitudinal study was geared at compensating for the limitedsample size. The findings led to the conclusion that identity could be an individual construct since individualsmay have the capacity to decide who they aspire to be and shape themselves in particular selves. The researchfound that choices may not be free but conditioned by social and environmental factors. For migrants, identityformation is therefore constrained by the need to maintain the native identity as well as espouse [or borrow] hostand imagined identities in order to integrate into societies and manage the effects of displacement and loss. Theresearch suggests that identity manipulation could be a social and psychological survival tactics, commandingfurther inquiry.