As I looked at the students’ response on a question related to this concept [Marcia’s Identity Status], I could not help from thinking why so many students did not able to answer the question accurately. The application question is straight forward.
Question: After getting his SPM results, Rahim has surveyed several undergraduate programmes at various universities that suit with his interest and SPM results. However, he has not decided to apply to any matriculation centre yet. This example shows that Rahim’s identity status is
A. identity diffusion
B. identity foreclosure
C. identity moratorium
D. identity achievement
Many students answered B [identity foreclosure] – wrong answer!
For Marcia’s Identity Status, there are four types of statuses based on four types of matrices between exploration and commitment.
1. identity diffusion = No exploration, No commitment.
2. identity foreclosure = No exploration, Have commitment.
3. identity moratorium = Have exploration, No commitment.
4. identity achievement = Have exploration and commitment.
Analysis of Question:
After getting his SPM results, Rahim has surveyed [Have exploration] several undergraduate programmes at various universities that suit with his interest and SPM results. However, he has not decided [No commitment] to apply to any matriculation centre yet.
So, the answer is C. identity moratorium
If we change the scenario into the following:
Scenario A
After getting his SPM results, Rahim has not surveyed [No exploration] several undergraduate programmes at various universities that suit with his interest and SPM results. However, he has decided [Have commitment] to apply to University Malaya Foundation Programme based on his parents’ suggestion to follow his siblings footstep who had enrolled in the same programme.
Rahim’s identity status is identity foreclosure
Scenario B
After getting his SPM results, Rahim has surveyed [Have exploration] several undergraduate programmes at various universities that suit with his interest and SPM results. However, he has decided [Have commitment] to apply to University Malaya Foundation Programme because he believes that he has better chance to further his study at University Malaya later on.
Rahim’s identity status is identity achievement
Scenario C
After getting his SPM results, Rahim could not be bothered to search for information related to any programme available at various institutions [No exploration] that suit with his interest and SPM results. In addition, he has not decided yet [No commitment] to apply to any matriculation centre.
Rahim’s identity status is identity diffusion
It is kind of straight forward scenario, isn’t it?
The next question is, as a teacher how can you help the students who do not reach identity achievement yet?