The name is absent

113

I

Identification is the process of recognition by the self

and others, of location in a world and of the self-sameness of

*

identity.

JVhen there is not this perception the stage is set for a
progress to identity-diffusion, that is the lack of success in
in establishing identity brought about when one is unable to

establish one’s self-sameness.

It was argued in Chapter VIII that stereotyping arising
from legislation and policy acted to socialize Aborigines into

negative identity.
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1 ^!

In the case of naming, it was hypothesized that an examination

і

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of naming would be shown to reveal the lack of autonomy of the
]

♦                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   I

Aboriginal people, to nihilate their world of meaning, to locate
і
their identity in racial categories within a negative identity.
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1
4

It was further hypothesized that a syndrome of disturbance               і

in identity formation has been caused by the process through
which Aborigines have been identified, that is, that the dominant
I
society, by constantly changing the criteria and manner of
identification (that is, by changing the criteria for self-sameness),

has created a situation leading to identity-diffusion for Aboriginal
people, preventing them from establishing a satisfactory

identity.

This hypothesis will now be examined, through a scrutiny of
the criteria used for identification for census purposes and the
criteria and processes of identification found,in general, in
government policy and practice before 1967.

⅛ypothesis 1.2, p. 42.

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