Fundamental Issues

Comparability from person to person [emic/etic issue]

As with the issue of stasis/flux, the internal standardisation procedures for each and every person provide for comparability of ISA parameters across individuals, even when identity instruments vary between them. In addition, the qualitative differences, as represented by the contents of alternative identity instruments, remain manifest so that in multi-cultural contexts the qualitative aspects of differing cultures are evident. In this manner, the emic (culturally specific) features of people's identities are directly assessed in ISA as they are encapsulated within etic (cross-culturally universal) parameters of identity. In ISA emic and etic features are simultaneously manifest.

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