Narrative approach to assessing interactions between society, community, and person

Abstract

Community Psychology has historically sought to understand interactions between society, communities, and individuals. This article explores the use of narrative as a method for understanding these interactions. Public housing is the context for this exploration. Recurring, pathological themes were found in 100 stories written about fictional residents of a public housing project by non-residents. Similar story themes are suggestive of the existence of societal-level narratives about public housing and public housing residents. Societal-level narratives are thought to profoundly influence public housing residents' community and personal narratives, as evidenced by stories told by residents. The implications for using narrative methods and community organizing as a narrative intervention are discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.