Life of Children Having Identity Crisis

A Research Paper Presented to the Faculty of the Senior High School

Department of Toledo City Science High School

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements of the Subject Practical Research I

(Qualitative Research)

By:

Cabili, James Bryan P.

Quinal, Jemaicah

Villamor, Mc Ivan Steven

Canete, Nicole Ann Marie

Bartolaba, Mica Aila

 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Rationale

Children’s mind-set can be easily manipulated. The reason for this is that

young children’s intellectual capacity has not yet attained the point of their lives

where the principle of right and wrong does not appeal to their senses. And that

they do not regulate these principles to themselves. If you share ideas and

activities that can help them grow, they apply it to the real world. But with a little

teasing about children’s, they will believe that they are something who is

different from others

Identity is one of the most important parts in a person’s life. According to

Erikson (1968) identity is a continuation of an individual’s past, present, and

future. Those who were unable to affiliate their roles and beliefs will have a hard

time having relations with the people surrounding them. Erikson did not believe

that the formation and growth of identity were just confined to adolescence.

Instead, identity is something that shifts and grows throughout life as people

confront new challenges and tackle different experiences.

Every person has his or her own unique identity. This identity is

composed of the different personality traits that can be considered positive or

negative. These personality traits can also be innate or acquired, and they vary

from one person to another based on the degree of influence that the

environment has on the individual. The bottom line is that as human beings, we

possess many characteristics that are honed in many different aspects that

eventually define who we are. As a child there is a a time that one may get

confused regarding their personal strengths and weaknesses. This temporary

insecurities and confusion may result in contrasting pressure and uncertainty

about one’s self and one’s role in the society which we refer as identity crisis.

Identity crisis refers to the need to resolve temporary failure to form a stable

identity, or confusion of roles. Identity crisis may seem particularly risky because

the whole future of the individual as well as the next generation appears to

depend on it. This matter can cause an individual to feel anxious, isolated,

empty, and indecisive.

According to Marcia (n.d.) individual begin to construct their personal

identities during childhood. He classified individuals into four statuses, namely

identity achievement, moratorium, foreclosure and diffusion. These statuses are

affected by the social interaction.

Identity achievement where an individual is committed to his or her they

have gone to examination and actively chosen an identity.

Identity moratorium those who are under this status have not yet committed

to an identity and are currently in the process, they may try on different identities.
 Identity foreclosure those who fall under this category have adopted an

identity without the internal struggles with societal demands that those in

moratorium and identity achievement experience. Individuals of this status may

sacrifice personal values and life goals depending on what the society demands.

Identity diffusion individuals are unable to commit what they truly feel, they

struggle adapting with the society and they do not value their own incapable of

thinking new ideas and beliefs.

With the struggles children experiencing due to identity crisis, the

researchers will establish an awareness and give an importance of what identity

truly is.
 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Introduction

This chapter will present the background information related to this

study. The chapter, therefore will start to look for children having identifying their

roles in the society and ask some questions.

Related Literature

1. Marcia’s four identity statuses

Marcia's theory is a continuation elaborating Erikson's Theory on ego

psychoanalytic that supports the idea that one of the eight phases of

psychological growth of one's individual is the development of self-

identity. Marcia's theory about Identity Status merges the elements of

ego identity with the carefully studied reactions of those children

moving their path from adolescent years. Marcia's theory explains that

every individual starts to create their own unique identities during their

childhood and early adulthood. He classifies every individual into one

of four identity statuses.

Marcia further elaborated his work and defined his four identity

statuses by performing interviews relevant to identity status with

pubescent kids. The outcomes of this conducted interview have

thoroughly divided the respondents into different circles based on

their responsibilities and self-identification. And while one's identity is

subject to change, psychiatrists and other professionals working on

the field of mental health can faster determine the most effective

approach for treatment by understanding a pubescent patient's

current identity status identification.

The following are Marcia’s four identity statuses along with the

characteristics of each.

1. Identity Achievement

This particular identity status is defined through one's

commitment to his personal life goals or moral values. Excluding the

most recent information and ideas being absorbed. One who's

considered to be under the status of Identity Achievement will

express full commitment to personal ambitions and goals focusing

on his desired ways of reaching them. These individuals have

undergone the process of expressing his life goals and have

undoubtedly chosen his identity. Mental Health practitioners aim to

help adolescent patients develop into these identity statuses

2. Identity Moratorium

Unlike those who are already identified by the identity

achievement status, those who are categorized under identity

moratorium have not committed to any roles or identity and are in the

process of making long-term life goals. These individuals try to

become a different identity and sometimes go against the trend

societal acceptance. Even though these individuals seem to have a

hard time, the active process of seeking identity is allowed and

considered appropriate especially ealy in adolescence.

3. Identity Foreclosure

Similar to identity achievement, those who are categorized under

Identity Foreclosure is committed to an identity and physically

satisfied with his choices. However, those who are suited in this

category have been developed an identity without struggles fulfilling

the judgments of society compared from identity achievement and

moratorium. Individuals who go through this statues may surrender

personal values, popular beliefs and goals society consider as

normal. Societal acceptance leads the lives of identity foreclosures.

4. Identity Diffusion

This status are intended for those individuals who failed to build

commitments, struggle to associate connections to others, and those

who are easily influenced with new and most recent ideas because

they are unable to evaluate their own ideas. Identity diffusion often

feel lost in track of their life goals and displays no interest in

changing themselves or creating long-term goals. Also those who

are under in this category chase after fulfillment and satisfaction from

tangible things to compensate what they lack emotionally. They do

not have an identity, and they don't bother to seek for an identity.
Statement of the Problem

The researchers examines the life of children having identity crisis.

Specifically, this study aims to answer the following questions.

1. What is the current situation of the child regarding his identity?

2. What are the common factors that influenced the child to have an identity

crisis?

3. What are the possible interventions that will help the child manage identity

crisis?

4. How do children with identity crisis respond to bullying?

Significance of the Study

The results of this study were the respondent’s insights on the daily lives of

children having identity crisis. This study will generally favors the following

entities: the parents, the children having identity crisis, peers and other

researchers.
 Parents. In relation with their responsibilities being a guardian, this study will

highly help them in raising and understanding their children. Also, it will help

them handle the bullying and teasing their children might encounter.

Children having identity crisis. This will help them know their worth in the

society and it will boost their self-esteem. In addition it will help them stand up

against bullying.

Peers. This will help them understand that each individual have differences

and be open-minded to people and children undergoing through this phase.

They will learn to support and aid their acquaintance who are having identity

crisis.

Other researchers. For other researchers who wishes to conduct a similar

study, they can benefit from this inquiry for further references.
 METHODOLOGY

This chapter described the methodology of the research. It covered the

research local, respondents, instruments and research procedure. Furthermore,

it discussed the strategies used to attain trustworthiness.

Research Locale

The study was conducted in the premises of Barangay Poblacion,Toledo

City,Cebu.

Population Sampling

This study intended to collect data from random children under 12 years old

having identity crisis of Poblacion, Toledo City. One of the reasons for choosing

children basing in Poblacion, Toledo City is because it is the most accesible area

in Toledo City where researchers can easily approach the respondents. Their