Lecture 4

Question 1

What are the three assumptions of McAdams’ theory?

Answer 1

Selfhood is given not made, self develops over time, people seek temporal coherence in their self

Question 2

What are the three levels of McAdams’ Integrative Theory of Personality

Answer 2

• Level 1: Traits
• Level 2: Personal concerns
• Level 3: Narrative Identity

Question 3

What are the common dimensions coded for by researchers?

Answer 3

Agency, Communion, Redemption, Contamination, Meaning making

Question 4

What did Dunlop and Tracey (2013) find in regards to redemptive narratives and behavioural change in recovering alcoholics?

Answer 4

• Redemption significantly predicted sobriety
• Health of redemption group significantly improved T1-T2

Question 5

What did Adler (2012) find when examining changes in narrative identity across 12 weeks of psychotherapy?

Answer 5

• Agency increased over 12 weeks
• No evidence of changes in narrative coherence
• Agency increased showed significant positive association with MH
• Trait neuroticism decreased over sessions and was associated with an increase in MH over time, but narrative agency remained a significant predictor of

Question 6

How do narrative identity processes influence college adjustment (Lingendahl and McClean,2020)

Answer 6

• Positive SECs @ spring year 1 associated with increases in life satisfaction at autumn yr 2
• Positive SECs within romantic experiences (spring yr1) significantly associated with increases in life satisfaction at AUT yr2
• Lower levels of life satisfaction associated with greater negative SECs at spring year 1

Question 8

How do SECs impact anxiety and depression?

Answer 8

• SECs at spring yr 1 not sig associated with changes in anxiety and depression at autumn yr 2
• Higher baseline levels of anxiety and depression associated with negative SECs at spring yr 1