Pickled Identity

Ever felt like you did something which was highly uncharacteristic of you, while in a group of people.This is because a crowd has an identity of its own and it isn't the same as the one you possess.That identity supersedes all individual identities, to assume an un-assailable status.
What's interesting is to see if this theory can be applied to smaller groups.
A familiar term in this regard could be "peer-pressure".Its something which everyone experiences and it forces them into doing unwanted or otherwise unwilling acts, but could this pressure lead to a loss of identity?

I think it could! Although the so called "peer pressure" might not just be the only reason. Being a part of the group is reason enough for you to assume an identity of the group and if you don't feel a loss in your identity, maybe you didn't become a core part of the group.

Think in retrospect back to your school,college days- what you were and how you have transformed into a new being claiming each day of an inherent unique self identity. Now think of the group you were a part of and how its those characteristics that have rubbed on to you over time.

The transformation is so subtle that one doesn't notice the changes. Just as how in a pickle the individual constituents lose their identity submitting to a unique common identity. This is how I would like to describe these transformed identities-Pickled Identities.

An analogy that could be drawn is that these identities too could be long lasting because its highly unlikely for you to form a cohesive group after getting busy in your individual life. The pickling has a preservative-like impact.

Even if you try hard to hold on strongly to your original identity. Once into the pickle, with time it will lose its characteristics. The only way of prevention could be not submitting oneself to the pickle. This is shown in the lives of people who had the greatest identities of their own. People like Swami Vivekanand, Gautam Buddha, who attained such great individual identities by not submitting themselves to any such pickle.

But, as evident from their lives its not easily achievable and needs extreme levels of strength in one's character. So everyone who doesn't agree may live in self denial.(which actually might be one of your pickled characteristics)