Lecture 19 - Life Stories Intro - November 12

Question 1

what is a Narrative Identity

Answer 1

The internalized and evolving story of the self that the person consciously and unconsciously constructs to bind together the many different aspects of the self.

explains life
putting together a novel of ourselves

Question 2

what if we don’t think we are good story tellers

Answer 2

we all tell stories (explanations) even if it doesn’t seem like it

Question 3

what are The basics of a story (5 yr old knows this)

Answer 3

 Stories are set in a particular time and place, and involve characters who act on their beliefs and desires over time.
 Stories expected to have a beginning, middle, and end .
 Stories should evoke suspense
and curiosity, otherwise they will be dismissed as boring

Question 4

what is McAdams Life Story Model of Identity

Answer 4

1. The person defines herself by constructing an autobiographical story of the self. (not necessarily conscious process).
2. The story provides unity and coherence
3. Facts are not as important as meaning
4. The process begins actively in young adulthood (5 years) but important aspects of the life story are derived from earlier developmental periods
5. the process continues throughout one’s adult life
6. The story should become more finely nuanced as one grows older
7. There should be some adaptive benefit to a well-crafted life story

Question 5

did life stories happen in pre-modern times

Answer 5

probably not

Question 6

are life stories a western thing

Answer 6

potentially a western phenomenon

Question 7

when do life stories start to develop

Answer 7

some do it earlier or later

Question 8

explain 3. Facts are not as important as meaning

Answer 8

we know memory is crap, but the fact don’t matter as much as the meaning/value they bring to life

Question 9

explain 2. The story provides unity and coherence

Answer 9

helps us to make sense of contradictions within us

Question 10

explain 4. The process begins actively in young adulthood but important aspects of the life story are derived from earlier developmental periods

Answer 10

including early story telling, causal and thematic coherence and parent roles

Question 11

what are the milestones in developmental narrative identity

Answer 11

• 2-3 yrs; autobiographical memory
• 3-4 yrs; theory of mind
• 5-6 yrs; story grammar
• 10-14 yrs; cultural script
• 12-25 yrs; autobiographical reasoning and advanced story telling

Question 12

explain autobiographical memory

Answer 12

children begin to remember personal events about ‘me’

Question 13

explain theory of mind

Answer 13

children come to understand that people are motivated against who have minds containing desires and beliefs and act on those.

Question 14

explain story grammar

Answer 14

children understand how to structure stories

Question 15

explain cultural script

Answer 15

children and adolescents learn what a human life typically contains and how they are sequenced

Question 16

explain autobiographical reasoning and advanced story telling

Answer 16

gain proficiency in deriving personal meanings from auto biographical events

Question 17

explain 5. The process continues throughout one’s adult life

Answer 17

 Stories in midlife become more about generativity.
 Late life involves life story review and the resolution of this is related to final Erickson stage:
 Integrity vs Despair

Question 18

what do alzheimers patients turn to

Answer 18

Turn To Stories Instead Of Memories : Shots - Health News Storytelling can be a way of giving people with dementia a low-stress way to communicate, one that does not rely on their memories. And it can give caregivers a chance to reconnect with their loved ones.May 14, 2012

Question 19

what is The reminiscence bump

Answer 19

–we remember more events from late ado and early adulthood than any other period.

Question 20

why do we have the reminiscence bump

Answer 20

 Neuro-cognitivedevelopment (because that is when we develop a clear understanding of us and roles, 18-24 is when brains capable of remembering the most)
 Narrative explanation – coming of age (most ‘firsts’)

Question 21

explain 6. The story should become more finely nuanced as one grows older

Answer 21

 more complex; (including contradictory things)

 more differentiated (different character’s perspectives)

Question 22

explain 7. There should be some adaptive benefit to a well-crafted life story

Answer 22

mostly in next lecture but;

related ti the big 5 except for E

Question 23

HigherWell Being related to Stories that feature what

Answer 23

1. Growth
2. Autonomy
   a. Intrinsic motivation b. Meaning making

Question 24

North americans have a focus on what ind of narrative story

Answer 24

 Earlier age of first childhood memory.
 More detailed childhood memories;
 More self-focused.
 Individual and 1-time
events.
 Show uniqueness.

Question 25

asians have a focus on what ind of narrative story

Answer 25

 Greater emphasis on social interactions;
 Focus more on important others.
 Show learning.