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PSYC 333 > The Narrative Self > Flashcards

The Narrative Self Flashcards

1
Q

What is the narrative identity?

A

A persons internalized and evolving life story

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2
Q

Does it have many of the same elements as other narratives?

A

Yes

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3
Q

Examples of elements as other narratives (3)

A

1) Beginning, middle and end
2) Major events that determine plot
3) Heroes and villains

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4
Q

Is the narrative identity perfectly accurate?

A

No

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5
Q

What is the narrative identity based on?

A

Based on selective and biased reconstruction of the past and imagine future
- deeply personal and highly subjective

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6
Q

Is the narrative identity a work in progress?

A

Yes, it is constantly shifting as we experience new situations

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7
Q

Is the narrative identity made up of multiple stories?

A

Yes, some may be contradictory

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8
Q

Continuity and unity of the self: what is it?

A

organizes self in time by connecting past, present and future self

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9
Q

Is total unity possible? Why not?

A

No, due to selective, biased reconstruction, new experiences and contradictory life events

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10
Q

What do we rather do?

A

we do our best to unify our life

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11
Q

Meaning and purpose: what is it?

A

a way to make sense of the events of one’s life
- people interpret similar events differently to fit their evolving narrative identity

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12
Q

Relation to Jame’s Self: Storyteller vs narrative

A

We are each the storyteller/author writing the narrative of our lives
Storyteller: I
Narrative: Me

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13
Q

Identity development begins in…

A

Adolescence

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14
Q

Identity begins in adolescence due to:

A

Societal expectations

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15
Q

Explain societal expectations

A

Forming an identity and figuring out who one is

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16
Q

What improvements do adolescences have for cognitive development?

A

casual coherence

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17
Q

Definition: Casual Coherence

A

ability to craft a casual narrative wherein events link together

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18
Q

What is casual coherence necessary for?

A

Construction of autobiographical narratives

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19
Q

Who shapes narrative skills in children?

A

Parents

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20
Q

Explain how parents shape the narrative skills in children

A

parents who use elaborated conversation styles, focusing on personal stories and underscoring emotion tend to have kids who develop strong self storytelling skills

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21
Q

Who shapes our narrative skills as adults?

A

Edited and reinterpreted by talking with others

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22
Q

Explain how others shape the narrative skills in adults

A

People are more likely to hold on to a personal story and to incorporate it into their more general understanding of who they are when important people in their life agree with the interpretation the story

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23
Q

Explain Agency Theme

A

The degree to which protagonists are able to affect change in their own lives or influence others in their environment, through demonstrations of self-mastery, empowerment, achievement, or status

  • Highly agentic stories focus on accomplishment and the ability to control one’s fate
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24
Q

Explain Communion Theme

A
  • The degree to which protagonists demonstrate or experience interpersonal connection through love, friendship, dialogue, or connection to a broad collective
  • High communion stories emphasize intimacy, caring, and belongingness
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25
Explain Redemption Theme
* Scenes in which a "bad" event leads to a clearly "good" or emotionally positive outcome * The initial negative state is "redeemed" or salvaged by the good that follows *Tends to frame the negative event as necessary for growth
26
Explain Contamination Theme
* Scenes in which a positive event turns bad, such that the negative affect overwhelms or erases the effects of the preceding positivity * E.g. The narrator is excited for a promotion at work but learns it came at the expense of his friend being fired
27
Explain Coherence Theme
Narratives with clear causal sequencing, thematic integrity, and appropriate integration of emotional responses * E.g. Participant describes how being attacked by a dog as a child has led to his anxiety around letting his children adopt a pet
28
Continuity and Change STUDY Results for: Evidence for continuity - 3 things are consistent
1) Narrative complexity 2) Agency 3) +tive emotional tone
29
Continuity and Change STUDY Results for: Evidence for change - 3 things are consistent
1) positive 2) emotionally nuanced 3) greater personal understanding
30
Compared to younger adults, older adults tend to construct life stories that are: (3)
*More complex and coherent *More positive in emotional tone *More summarized and less detailed
31
what does this suggest?
Suggests that as we get older, our life story becomes “warmer, fuzzier” and more integrated
32
Narrative identity + Personality: Smallest to biggest
personality traits, characteristic adaptations, narrative identity
33
What is included in Narrative identity?
* Internalized and evolving life stories * Tell what a person’s life means in time
34
What is included in Characteristic adaptations?
* Values, goals, personal projects, defenses * Capture more socially contextualized and motivational aspects of individuality
35
What is included in personality traits?
* Broad individual differences * E.g.BigFive * Account for consistency in behaviour
36
High neuroticism is associated with stories characterized by (4)
* High negative emotion * Low positive emotion * Less growth * More contamination sequences
37
High agreeableness is associated with characterized by
High communion
38
Openness to experience is associated with stories characterized by (2)
* More complex, containing multiple plots * High coherence
39
High power motivation associated with life stories that emphasize which theme?
Emphasize agentic themes
40
High power motivation associated with life stories that emphasize with which narrative?
Use an analytic and differentiated narrative style * Focusing on differences, separation, opposition
41
High intimacy motivation associated with life stories that emphasize which theme?
Emphasize communal themes
42
High intimacy motivation associated with life stories that emphasize with which narrative?
Use a holistic and integrated narrative style * Focusing on similarities and connections between different life story scenes
43
Do different kinds of people construct different kinds of stories?
Yes
44
Is this correlation or causation?
Correlation, not causation * Direction of the personality-life story link is unclear
45
Those who are resilient in the face of life challenges tend to engage in a 2-step process of meaning making:
1. Exploring the negative experience in depth 2. Committing self to a positive resolution
46
What is associated with higher well being?
More redemption sequences and focus on personal growth are associated with higher well- being
47
People who are depressed tend to create life stories with themes of
contamination
48
What is a prime arena for challenging life stories?
Psychotherapy
49
What is the most important predictor of therapeutic efficacy?
Theme of personal agency in life story
50
In studies of former psychotherapy patients, those who report current higher levels of well-being tend to narrate?
heroic stories in which they bravely battled their symptoms
51
Increases in themes of agency in narratives preceded and predicted?
improvements in mental health
52
Highly generative midlife adults tend to see their own lives as
stories of redemption
53
Definition of generative
people with a strong commitment to promoting the well-being of future generations and improving the world they live in
54
Definition of Early advantage (EA)
The narrator indicates that they have experienced an advantage or distinction (physical, material, psychological, social) that singles them out for special positive attention
55
Definition of Sensitivity to the suffering of others (SS)
The narrator expresses sympathy for the problems of other people or societal injustice as a child
56
Definition of Moral steadfastness (MS)
The narrator emphasizes strong value system which motivates behavior. The values are central to their identity and unshakeable
57
Definition of Redemption sequences (RS)
The narrator describes a movement from demonstrably negative situation to a positive outcome
58
Definition of Pro-social goals (PG):
The narrator sets goals that involve contributing to the well-being of others beyond one’s own family
59
Why is redemption a good story?
Sets up a moral challenge that encourages the person to help the next generation
60
Does redemption sustains hope in the face of challenges and setbacks
Yes
61
Is it culturally valued?
yes, Pervasiveness of the redemptive self suggests that it is an American prototype of “the good life” * People use this prototype to make sense of their life
62
Do we construct our narrative identities according to the norms and scripts present in our culture?
Yes
63
Why do we construct our narrative identities according to the norms and scripts present in our culture?
Culture tells us what events are meaningful, what is a “tellable”story, and provide a blueprint for how to make sense of events
64
North American (vs. East Asian) adults tend to:
1) Report earlier age of first memory 2)Have more detailed memories of childhood 3)Have memories more focused on own personal experiences and emotions

PSYC 333 (17 decks)

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