A good life story: Deconstructing (and integrating) elements of narrative identity and a good life, featuring themes of humanistic growth

Abstract

We draw on a new framework of value to show how deconstructed elements of narrative identity (and hybrids of them) convey core elements of broad goods in life. An interview-based study of 95 adults suggests the following. Narrative tones of affectively positive outcomes uniquely convey hedonic satisfaction. Narrative themes of humanistic, experiential-growth motives (regardless of positive or negative outcomes, but also in hybrid with positive outcomes, i.e., growth fulfilled) uniquely convey eudaimonic meaningfulness. Narrative structural complexity (especially in hybrid with themes of humanistic, reflective-growth motives to form autobiographical reasoning) uniquely conveys wisdom. Findings are discussed in terms of humanistically motivated themes of growth and the bildungsroman genre as a cultural master narrative of a good life, notably in marginalized contexts.