Self Identity and Its Importance

Self-Identity begins during early childhood from the development of stories and scripts, otherwise known as an ‘internal working model' (Bowlby, 1969). These stories and the telling of them help establish a person's identity including the knowing of who they are, their likes and dislikes, where they have come from and where they would like to go. From identity will come a sense of who they are, a sense of ‘self.' However, for many reasons the links to a person's identity can become lost or obscured and it may then become difficult to communicate their self-identity to others. In this instance, although acknowledging reminiscing may not be for everyone and that it should be determined by individual choice, life story review has become a useful tool in helping vulnerable individuals re-establish a connection to their self, which in turn should directly improve the care they receive.

Recalling the past has become a key feature in care of the elderly and is practised in most care settings. Reminiscing can help the sufferer to regret, reflect and perhaps understand their past. Life review helps them to re-establish and portray their identity to their carers. It can assist families to reaffirm emotional bonds and remember their relative as the individual they once were. For the sufferer, life review can fuse together forgotten memories; it can provide the links between past and present.

Whilst life review may benefit many, it is essential to remember that this is not always the case. Some physiologists doubt one-to-one counselling in response to trauma . For people who have experienced intense suffering especially in war time activities, reminiscence work can evoke memories that are both powerful and emotional.

In conclusion, it is important to remember that stories and scripts are vital for the development of identity and sense of self. Equally it