20 - And the story evolves: The development of personal narratives and narrative identity

Abstract

This chapter reviews research on the development of narrative identity in childhood, adolescence, and across adulthood. Rooted in McAdams’ (2013) three-level framework, narrative identity is defined as a level of personality that is more idiographic, dynamic, and contextual than traits and characteristic adaptations. Beginning in early childhood, children begin to learn how to tell stories in past-event conversations with their parents. The manner in which parents talk with their children predicts those children’s own narrative representations of themselves into adolescence. Across adolescence a depth in autobiographical reasoning grows, which allows individuals to begin to construct a life story or narrative identity. Across adulthood change and stability in stories is discussed, concluding with speculations on links between developmental and personality approaches to narrative, as well as a consideration of personality integration in adulthood.