Toys, Objects & Identity Flashcards
Gelman & Davison
Approx. 60% of US children (middle class) have an attachment with particular loved objects
Hood & Bloom
Found that replicas of these loved objects is unacceptable
Fortuna et al
Young children spending time in non-parental care are more likely to form attachments to objects
Fahlberg
Objects are seen as transition objects which reduce trauma for those moving between care homes
Diesendruck and Perez
Objects are an extension of the self created through a process of contagion
Buse & Twigg
Handbags are an example of this in adulthood- they are a literal container of the self
Ward (2011)
Children who misplace, lose or have objects kept from through their are journey report feelings of ongoing loss- their already fragile sense of identity is chipped away
Adler (2012)
Narrative identities are internalised stories of the self that are created and evolved to provide a sense of unity and purpose
Benefits of narrative stories
Narrative stories are associated with recovery from maltreated in 75% of children who go on to be adopted (Adshead)
They improve mental health and help being able to respond sensitively to their own future children (Kaniuk, Steele and Hodges)
McAdams & McLean
repeated interactions with others allows narrative stories to be retold, interpreted, processed, edited and be subjected to social and discursive influences. The storyteller gradually develops a broader and more integrative narrative identity.
Erikson
Links to Erikson’s 5th stage of psycho-social development - Identity VS. Role confusion
Bamberg (2011)
Argues that identity is constructed through everyday, mundane interactions rather than ‘big life stories’
Kids Inc. (2002)
Only 5% of organisation incorporate children’s views into the design
Trove Project
Complementing current research on narrative identities, life books and tangible objects this project created a physical container for children (particular those in care or those who have been adopted) to curate and narrate their most precious objects and stories