Lecture 19 Flashcards
Narrative Identity
The internalized and evolving story of the self that the person consciously and unconsciously constructs to bind together the many different aspects of the self
As we go from level 1 to 3
Wheat we learn is deeper and more unique
Anecdote: Profs bad and best holidats
Dad worked as a non unionized carpenter so one week off a year
Always went to Amish community in Pen
Never went to Howard Johns fast food
BEST ONE Niagara falls Stayed in hotel with pool Went to Howard johns Made friends with other kids Sister nearly drowned, other kid saved her
People that are not story tellers
Are story tellers. Everyone is, we tell stories to ourselves.
Basics of a story
Set in a particular time and place and involve characters who act on their beliefs and desires over time
Expected to have a beginning, middle and end
Should evoke SUSPENSE and CURIOSITY, or they are boring
Anecdote: Amish lady story
Grew up Amish Stopped school at 8th grade Loved school, had her own space Wanted to keep going and have freedom Left Amish community at at 20 Worked in Pizza restaurant Met dude and dated Mom called in Amish and got her back Stayed for 2 years and 8 months Left again Married same dude No one from community came Mom called to tell her she was banished
McAdams Life Story Model of Identity
(1) The person defines themselves by constructing an autobiographical story of the self (not always consciously)
We start at 13 and just do it
This is probably a modern and western thing as modern lives in the west have freedom.
It is a developmental process
(2) The story provides unity and coherence
It is how we tie together and make sense of different versions of ourselves at different time in our lives.
(3) Facts are not as important as the meaning
McAdams remembers his dad told him he was born prematurely and had a 5050 chance at life.
Wass not true
Significant anyway as McAdams (a)felt lucky to be alive and was determined to make the most of it and (b) felt he had to be responsible.
Does not need to be true to be meaningful.
Prof conflated Sister Julia from 5th grade to incorporate many other popular character he liked at that age.
Same with Mark Baldwin stealing his brothers spelling Bee story
(4) The process begins in young adulthood but important aspects of life story are derived from earlier memories and developmental periods
Early storytelling exists but as the person gets older there is more thematic coherence and causality in the stories (they make sense).
Your parents can improve this by asking you to elaborate and fill in the details in their stories.
Caveats
Cultural background might limit and/or define the stories you can tell
The role of other people changes with development, initially its all from your perspective, later you fill in the blanks as to their motivation.
Before 3 we remember nothing; your stories before that age came from elsewhere.
We are all novelists.
(5) The process continues throughout one’s adult life
Stories content reflects the developmental stage
Early ones will be about Identity, later generativity
(6) The story should become more finely nuanced with age
More Complex - more aspects of life and maybe add things that are contradictory
More Differentiated - Include other characters
When we first tell a story its all our point of view, with age this becomes inclusive of other characters points of view and motivations (add understanding of other characters)
(7) There should be an adaptive benifit to a well-crafted story
C - Joy in work accomplishments
A - Joy in social accomplishments
N - Negative emotions and contamination plots
O - Especially complex; multiple plots, high coherence
Higher well being is associated with (1) Growth and (2) Autonomy (intrinsic motivation and making meaning).
The narrative process
We make stories
Edit these in response to feedback, new experiences, narrating these new events in light of past experiences and so on.
Constant editing
Might be that the Amish lady did not want freedom originally when she told herself her story but eventually introduced it which might have made it possible to do it
Old people and stories
Very good for old people to tell their life stories
Dementia patients too
What age is emphisised
Prof 60% of his are between 18-24
The reminiscence bump
18-24 Remember these best
2008 experiment with 50 year olds List 20 "I am" statements eg I am British Pick 3 and generate 10 memories for each How old were you? M=23
It is when we define who we are but also, when brains are best at remembering
Comparisons between NA and east asians
North Americans
Earlier age of first memories More detailed childhood memories More self-focused Individual and 1 time events Show uniqueness Often about the self
East Asians Greater emphasis on social interactions Focus more in important others\ Show learning Often about the self in interaction with others
