Narrative Identity Theory Research Articles

Constructing a Conformer–Explorer Identity in Pandemic Narratives: A Qualitative Study of Chinese Emerging Adults

Existing research indicates that social crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped young people’s sense of self, but little is known about what identities emerging adults construct in their pandemic narratives. Following propositions of narrative identity and Terror Management Theory, this qualitative study investigated Chinese emerging adults’ identity construction in their narratives of the national outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2022. Participants were 62 college students invited to share their pandemic experiences with reflections. Thematic analysis of the data suggests that the participants shared their pandemic experiences as a process of managing their death terror activated in the pandemic which threatened their sense of self and meanwhile motivated them to reconstruct who they are in the world. Based on their meaning-making capacities, the participants disclosed death awareness and vulnerabilities, adopted a temporal perspective in storytelling, emphasized their interpersonal and social connections, and made meaning out of the pandemic experiences to defend against death terror. As an outcome of their narration, a conformer–explorer identity was constructed in their pandemic narratives and we proposed a dialectical model to capture the dynamics of the construction. Although with limitations, this study contributes to our understanding of the functions of mortality salience on narrative identity among emerging adults in collectivist cultures during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Building narrative identity in a context of audience failures: Stories of resistance among young adults formerly in foster care

BackgroundChild maltreatment survivors with extensive foster care involvement are tasked with building identities that allow them to make sense of difficult pasts in ways that help them build adult lives. ObjectiveTo use narrative identity theory to explore identities and identity-building challenges of young adults formerly in foster care. Participants and settingTwelve young adults who aged out of the foster care system in Illinois. MethodsParticipants were interviewed three times with semi-structured protocols that focused on their life stories and the meanings derived from them. Data were analyzed using an adapted grounded theory approach. ResultsMany participants forged resistance identities around a fierce sense of agency, motivated to not be another foster care statistic or like their parents. Challenges to identity construction included the scarcity of trusted audiences willing to listen fully to their life stories, missing information about key events, and the senselessness of maltreatment experiences. College and work opportunities provided normative contexts and new audiences where identities shifted, but often at the cost of not revealing their histories, limiting social relations. Temporal coherence was evident in most life stories. Causal and global coherence was more difficult to achieve. ConclusionsIntervention efforts designed to provide willing and helpful audiences for narrative formation work may help young people from foster care find meaning in their pasts that help them forge identities that promote satisfying and successful adult lives. Narrative identity theory may benefit from greater engagement with theories of oppression and marginalization.

Narratives of and for survival in family firms: family influence on narrative processing

PurposeResilience of long-lived family businesses has been widely acknowledged but the mechanisms enabling longevity need to be further investigated. This can be done by examining how narratives about crisis situations are processed in family firms.Design/methodology/approachBased on narrative interviews, this qualitative study examines how crisis situations have been dealt with and narrated by long-lived German family firms.FindingsNarratives of survival can have a strengthening effect so they become also narratives for survival. The analysis reveals how the constructive management of crises contributes to emotional attachment, identification and commitment and also strengthens resilience and longevity.Originality/valueThe study contributes to narrative identity theory by answering calls for narrative analysis and capturing the influence of narratives on family firms and business families. The discussion of the findings leads to the narrative processing model showing how past crises are processes to gain identity and resilience in the future and how the business family can influence this process.

In Defense of Narrative Identity

Over the past few decades, a number of philosophers, psychologists, and other scholars have used the concept of narrative as a basis for thinking about personal identity and ethical responsibility. It has been argued that, ethically, we should strive to achieve the unity that we discover in creating narratives about our lives. More recently, critical reactions to narrative theories have taken the form of a specific anti-narrative discourse. This article presents arguments in defense of the theory of narrative identity, based on the philosophy of Alasdair MacIntyre and Charles Taylor, in whose thinking narrative is a central concept. The presented study defends the thesis that narrative identity is not an arbitrary contingent mental construct, but is necessarily present in human existence and is associated with the hermeneutic understanding of man as a temporary being capable of reflexive activity, constructing meanings, assessments, and goals. It is argued that narrative identity theory successfully addresses the problem of personal identity and the related question of the ethical responsibility of the subject by creating a narrative unity of the life project of an individual, in which the interrelationship between the concepts of personal identity, narration and evaluation is built. Section 1 analyses MacIntyre's concept of narrative and explains its significance for solving the problem of personal identity. Section 2 explicates the key characteristics of narrative identity: holisticity, intelligibility, teleology and the principle of self-care; it also provides responses to the criticisms of opponents who oppose the narrative concept of personal identity. Section 3 presents arguments in defence of Taylor's assertion that the ethical horizon of our existence presupposes the desire for narrative unity of the individual.

Women leaders' lived experiences of bravery in leadership

PurposeThe research aims to understand the stories of women leaders who have demonstrated bravery in leadership. By analyzing their lived experiences through storytelling and narratives, it seeks to shed light on the challenges and motivations behind their brave actions, contributing to a deeper understanding of bravery in leadership within gender and organizational contexts.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a qualitative multiple case study approach, focusing on the autobiographical accounts of three women leaders to explore their experiences of bravery in leadership. Utilizing narrative analysis (NA), it is grounded in ethical leadership theory and narrative identity theory. The research method involves cross-analyzing these narratives to unearth themes that depict a multifaceted view of bravery, including moral courage and ethical decision-making.FindingsThe study reveals various themes of bravery in leadership, such as moral courage, authenticity, resilience and ethical decision-making. These findings enhance the understanding of bravery's role in ethical conduct and transformative change, highlighting the complex manifestations of bravery in women's leadership practices.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes to the broader discourse on bravery in leadership, especially for women. It offers insights into how bravery is integral to ethical conduct and transformative leadership and sheds light on the influence of gender dynamics on leadership experiences. This study significantly enriches the discourse on bravery in leadership, with a particular focus on women's experiences. It delves into how bravery, encompassing moral courage and authenticity, is crucial for ethical conduct and transformative leadership. By highlighting the stories of women leaders, the research underscores the complex interplay between bravery and gender dynamics within organizational contexts. It challenges traditional perceptions of leadership and bravery, advocating for a more nuanced understanding that recognizes the unique challenges and strengths of women leaders. Furthermore, this study paves the way for future research to explore diverse dimensions of bravery in leadership, encouraging a more inclusive approach that values different perspectives and experiences.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study advocate for empowering leadership practices and guide the development of a courageous leadership landscape. Current events show evidence that many organizations lack the integration of bravery as a core leadership trait. These narratives of bravery in women's leadership can serve as a powerful catalyst for inspiring all leaders These stories can guide leaders across various levels to embrace bravery in their decision-making and leadership styles. The integration of these insights into organizational policies and leadership development programs can lead to a more courageous, ethical and transformative leadership landscape.Social implicationsThe research emphasizes the need for inclusive approaches to leadership and bravery, challenging dominant gender norms. It underscores the importance of acknowledging and valuing women leaders' stories, thereby empowering their narratives.Originality/valueThe study adds value to the field by unveiling the often untold narratives around bravery in leadership. Findings can assist in fostering environments where diverse expressions of bravery are recognized and valued. Findings have the potential to inspire a new generation of leaders, across all genders, to embrace bravery in their roles, thereby enriching the leadership landscape with diverse, ethical and courageous practices. This research not only contributes to academic discourse but also has real-world implications, encouraging organizations to reevaluate and evolve their leadership models to be more inclusive and effective in today's dynamic and diverse global environment.

Technology, Personal Information, and Identity

Novel and emerging technologies can provide users with new kinds and unprecedented amounts of information about themselves, such as autobiographical information, neurodata, health information, or characteristics inferred from online behavior. Technology that provides extensive personal information (PI technology) can impact who we understand ourselves to be, how we constitute ourselves, and indeed who we are. This paper analyzes how PI technology’s external, quantified perspective on us affects identity based on a narrative identity theory. Disclosing the intimate relationship between PI technology and identity sheds light on a whole new range of ethical issues that have received insufficient attention so far. Personal information provided by technology is not just information that belongs to individuals but also changes them.

The transitional experiences of an international student facing chronic physical illness

This article illuminates the author’s transitional experiences during a chronic physical illness in China. Although many studies have considered patients’ chronic physical illnesses, few have considered international students’ experiences of chronic physical illness by means of the narrative approach. The author examines her chronic physical illness journey based on transitional experience and narrative identity theory. The narrative indicates a sense of identity, agency, and adaptation to change, and the exploration of such experiences could significantly contribute to the literature on students’ chronic physical health from a student’s perspective.

‘Connecting the I to the we to the world’: social media as dialogue between self and society

ABSTRACT Social media has become a central context in which young people connect with others, explore their identity, and express their agency. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with the aim of exploring how a diverse group of South African emerging adults (N = 41) construct the meaning of self and society through their online engagements. Narrative identity theory provided a framework for understanding the construction of personal and collective narratives. The emergence of social responsibility and personal agency in a transforming South African context was also considered. The findings confirm that social media serves as an important developmental context in which diverse young people connect with each other and the world, refine their philosophy on life, and reflect on their views of the future. It became evident how South African emerging adults grapple with multiple stories and attempt to integrate themes of individuality and solidarity, diversity and unity, and adversity and responsibility.

‘I’m Just a Big Teddy Bear’: An Analysis of Men’s Professional Identity Narratives in Caring Occupations

ABSTRACT Professionals in gender atypical occupations can face challenges throughout their careers. This qualitative study applies narrative theory to investigate how men in caring professions made sense of their career progression and professional identity in occupations composed primarily of women. Data were collected through 30 semi-structured interviews with men currently working in a caring profession. Findings showed men in caring professions constructed their career narratives around 3 major thematic elements: early socialization experiences, gender misplacement, and affirmation of professional identity. These narrative elements provided insight into participants’ choices to remain in the field, perceptions of the work they do, and ability to overcome occupational challenges. Additionally, this study exemplifies the value of coherent and meaningful narratives and advances the discussion in narrative identity literature by combining the concept of professional identity and narrative identity theory.

Struggling to recover or recovering the struggle: a critical examination of recovery narratives as discourses-in-practice for people suffering from postpartum depression

ABSTRACT Postpartum depression is a prevalent condition, and preliminary data suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic further increased its incidence. Building on scholarship that has shown the value of exploring patients’ narratives for diagnosis and treatment, this study examines narratives of recovery in an online support forum, using theories of narrative identity. An online forum with 64 participants suffering from postpartum depression was analyzed according to grounded theory. A thematic analysis uncovered two dominant narratives: the full recovery or inevitable progress narrative, and the cyclical recovery or struggle as norm narrative. This study illustrates the complicated interaction between medical institutions, recovery narratives, and identity.

The relationality of parts for narrative identity constitution in the corporate profile translations of China’s multinational corporations

The corporate profile translations of multinational corporations (MNCs) in emerging economies such as China possess rich information for narrative analysis. Nevertheless, how the parts of a corporate profile translation form a whole narrative remains undertheorized. This study, therefore, examines the relationality of parts in the corporate profile translations of China’s MNCs by integrating William Labov’s narrative structure with Margaret Somers’ narrative identity theory. Specifically, we conduct a theoretical thematic analysis of how constituents form a whole narrative in relevant corporate profiles, of the shifts in the relationality of parts from the Chinese source texts (STs) to the English target texts (TTs) of these profiles, and of the influences of these shifts on the constitution of corporate identities in the target texts. Our results show that in the corporate profiles of Chinese MNCs, episodes are not randomly selected and related to each other but follow predominant patterns. However, we find no unified patterns in the shifts in the relationality of parts via the corporate profile translation of China’s MNCs. We thus reveal how corporations’ identities are constituted in diverse ways that reflect their fluid and unique features. Accordingly, our findings have implications for translation studies and corporate communications.

Посттравматичне зростання з перспективи наративного підходу до вивчення особистості

Background. Today's challenges require a person to be able to cope with crises and integrate this experience for personal growth, which is reflected in such psychological phenomena as post-traumatic growth (PTG). Given the methodological limitations of previous quantitative studies of this problem, there was a need to expand the understanding of post-traumatic growth using new methodological approaches, in particular narrative methods. In this literature review, we set out to explore the sources in which the post-traumatic growth studied within the framework of the narrative theory of personality, and sought answers to the following questions: a) how can post-traumatic growth be reflected in the narratives of people who have experienced traumatic experiences?; b) how effective is psychotherapy using narrative techniques in facilitating PTG of post-traumatic growth? Results. An analysis of the existing literature showed that the study of post-traumatic growth within the framework of the theory of narrative identity remains a promising and understudied direction. The most adaptive themes through which post-traumatic growth can manifest itself in people's life stories are the themes of agency and redemption, which have been linked in a number of studies to deeper cognitive processing of memories, psychological maturity, prosocial personality traits, and improved mental health. The central process that determines the subjective interpretation of one's life history and the development of a narrative identity is the process of meaning-making. So far, there has been little research on the effectiveness of narrative techniques in facilitating post-traumatic growth. Conclusions. The limitations of this review and the prospects for further research are discussed, emphasizing the importance of studying the dynamics of post-traumatic growth at the level of narrative identity using longitudinal designs and mixed methodology. It also discusses the prospects for integrating existing and future research on this issue into the practice of psychotherapy.

Феномен идентичности: культурологический анализ произведений П. Рикера и М. Кундеры

Comprehensive study of identity makes observable the very person of researcher and thus switches us from the question ’what?’ onto ‘who?’. Social practices and cultural values find reflection in literature, which serves a perfect source for studying various issues of culture, including the phenomenon of identity. Cultural and philosophical reasonings and ideas of Kundera provide a valuable insight into understanding of multi-faceted nature of identity. Ricoeur, who created the theory of narrative identity, establishes addressing to the literature in terms of the study of human selfhood. Both Kundera and Ricoeur were acutely sensitive towards the issues of modern culture and tried, each in his own way, to solve them — Ricoeur through philosophy, Kundera — by means of the novel, both noting the importance of the fiction in the study of identity. The writer believes that European art and, first and foremost, the novel was instrumental in shaping of man as personality, promoted readers` interest towards the others around and to different views of the world. The notion of narrative identity is, for sure, applicable not only towards the fiction but the culture as a whole, which is woven out of the stories being told and transferred across generations. The works of Ricoeur, on the one hand, act as an important theoretical basis for studying the issue of identity in the work of Kundera and on the other, Kundera`s reflections about the phenomenon of the novel, its structure, functions and poetics may serve a worthy addition and perfect illustration of of Ricoeur`s idea of narrative identity.

The dialogical semiosis of self-narrative in Burning

Abstract The first-person access to the self has been widely recognized by philosophers. But a competing idea arises, challenging the first-person givenness, from those who argue that self-interpretation and self-knowledge are acquired through the third-person perspective. I argue that these two dichotomous perspectives of the self can be mediated by the second-person perspective through dialogical semiosis of narrative. Peirce’s semiotic perspective on the self emphasizes the role of a semiotic subject that participates in sign processes as an interpreting agent. In this sense, the concept of self is acquired through semiosis of narrative and at the same time it is interpreted in narrative world, taking the role of character. It is character which makes a person identifiable as a person, since character is not substance but quality as a recognized pattern or type through time, which becomes a habit of act and thought, thus forming personal identity. Within this context, I argue that from the first-person perspective a deliberate subject of self as “subjective I” and from the third-person perspective a dynamic object of self as “objective I” are mediated by the relationship between self and other as an imaginary relation in narrative world, just like an imaginary line of identity, connecting word with thing. From the second-person perspective, oneself as another forms teridentity (co-identity) in textual world. I shall illustrate the interlock between the semiotic self and narrative identity through Peirce’s semiotic approach to the self and Ricoeur’s theory of narrative identity, analyzing the filmic narrative text of Burning (2018).

The Reconstructive Play of Memory: Commentary on David Edwards’ Case Study of Schema Therapy

This commentary discusses David Edwards’s (2022) case study of "Kelly’s circle of safety and healing: An extended schema therapy narrative and interpretative investigation," published in Pragmatic Case Studies in Psychotherapy. It examines Edwards’s efforts to integrate his imagistic/experiential therapeutic approach to a client’s maladaptive schemas based in childhood recollections with a contemporary model of autobiographical memory, Conway’s Self Memory System. Although I think there is much merit in this integration, particularly in highlighting reconstructive and re-imagining aspects of memory, I call attention to crucial relational dimensions of this reconstruction in a therapeutic dyad. Similarly, in encouraging continued development of this synthesis between schema therapy and autobiographical memory research, I suggest that constructs from Narrative Identity theory including the life story, self-defining memories, and narrative scripts would be of great value. Finally, I note that we are still in preliminary stages of establishing empirical linkages that would support Kelly’s full integrative vision.

Narrative identity among people with disabilities in the United States during the Covid-19 pandemic: The interdependent self

This study examines narrative identity among a large, diverse sample of people with disabilities (PWDs) in the United States during the “second wave” of the Covid-19 pandemic (October-December 2020). The study relied on abductive analyses, combining a purely inductive phase of inquiry followed by two rounds of investigation that filtered inductive insights through three theoretical lenses: social-ecological theory, the theory of narrative identity, and perspectives from the interdisciplinary field of disability studies. The central result was the identification of a particular configuration of self, one that was demonstrably interdependent with both immediate interpersonal contexts and with broader cultural contexts. This interdependent self was interpreted in both positive and negative ways by PWDs. These findings invite future inquiry into commonplace conceptualizations of an independent self at the center of personality research and suggest that dominant conceptualizations of “the good life” may overly emphasize independence.

Sometimes I Am Fictional: Narrative and Identification

Most analytical philosophers consider that we cannot identify with fictional characters in a literal sense. Specifically, Carroll and Gaut argue that doing so would imply a high degree of irrationality. In this paper I stand for the claim that we can identify with fictional characters thanks to a suspension of disbelief. First, I rely on narrative theories of personal identity to propose a model of how the process of identification might happen in real life. Then, I explain how this model can be adapted to account for the suspension of disbelief that occurs in the special case of identification with fictional characters.

‘Kindness and empathy beyond all else’: Challenges to professional identities of Higher Education teachers during COVID-19 times

COVID-19 has continued to effect higher education globally in significant ways. During 2020, many institutions shifted learning online overnight as the sector closed its doors and opened new sites for remote teaching. This article reports on an international study [Phillips et al., 2021] that sought to capture how cross-sectoral teachers experienced these emergency changes during the first months of restrictions. The data, analysed using narrative identity theory, revealed concerns that fall into two broad categories: technologies and relationships. Significantly, it was not a loss of content delivery or changes to assessment that prompted the greatest anxiety for our colleagues, but that they held significant concerns about their students’ mental health; inequities of access to a range of services including technological; and challenges connecting emotionally with their students at a distance. The results provide actionable strategies for higher education institutions to apply in future emergencies where remote teaching is necessary.

Narrative Identity Anchors the Self During Instability: The Structuring Effect of Cinematic Self

According to narrative identity theory, narratives underlie a strong sense of self because they unify and integrate identity (McAdams, 2008). Consistent with this, individual differences in cinematic self, how storied people experience themselves (Wong, Dirghangi, & Butner, 2020), positively relate to stronger self outcomes. If narratives provide a robust structure for identity, then the consequences of having a stronger or weaker narrative identity may be particularly evident during instability. Two studies tested the hypothesis narrative identity moderates the relationship between self-instability and sense of self. Significant interactions were observed across university students ( N = 172) and online adults ( N = 248), that were consistent across measures of self (self-concept clarity, self-alienation, self-awareness) and stability (stability of self, labile self-esteem), and remained significant controlling for self-esteem. The results support the idea a highly storied identity structures a more robust self than a lesser storied identity and that narrative identity promotes resilience during unstable times.

Why, How, and When to Integrate Narrative Identity Within Dimensional Approaches to Personality Disorders.

Researchers and clinicians are beginning to adopt dimensional approaches in the study and treatment of personality disorders (PD). Although dimensional approaches in the DSM-5 and ICD-11 hold considerable benefit, they need to better incorporate an appreciation of individuals' life stories, or narrative identities. Doing so will be necessary to flesh out the emphasis that both frameworks place on the role of identity in personality pathology. In this article, the authors review why, how, and when narrative identity theory and research can be integrated within dimensional approaches to PD. The authors describe established ways to assess narrative identity, review extant research on this construct in relation to PD, and signal areas crucial for future research. Stories lie at the heart of what it means to be human. The authors conclude that a greater consideration of the ways in which the self is storied can help further understanding and treatment of PD.