Narrative identity: from the inside out

ABSTRACT

This article will share the preliminary findings from a wider and ongoing interpretative synthesis of narrative identity literature. First, we provide the analogy of Dante’s journey through the “inferno” to contextualize the review. Second, we share interpretations of literature pertaining to how life stories create meaning and suggest polarity might play an important role in forming complex and coherent meanings of life and selfhood. Meaning making in life stories is seen as a dynamic position of equilibrium between polarities in experiences that lead to themes and patterns. We suggest as an example the interplay between self and the world creates a person’s sense of agency, the extent a person believes they create their world or are created by it. Third, we interpret literature pertaining to how meaning creates life stories and suggest some examples of practise that may increase complexity and coherence of the expression and embodiment of meaning. Finally, we consider if it is the balance between these different experiences of meanings that may provide a person with the greatest sense of who they are.

KEYWORDS:

• Narrative Identity
• life story
• meaning
• complexity
• coherence

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lee Newitt

Lee Newitt is currently studying for the MSc Applied Positive Psychology at Bucks New University. He is an accredited coach, therapist, trainer and speaker.  Lee has a background as a teacher and as a research chemist at Durham University.  Lee’s research interests cover narrative psychology, existential positive psychology and transpersonal psychology.

Piers Worth

Piers Worth PhD is a ‘Reader’ in Psychology (Associate Professor equivalent) at Bucks New University. He is a Charted Psychologist and accredited psychotherapist. Piers’ PhD research focused on how creativity changes as we age, and how it may support positive ageing. Piers is co-course leader of the University’s MSc Applied Positive Psychology programme, having led its writing and validation process. His research interests are positive ageing and learning from creative lives.

Matthew Smith

Matthew Smith is co-Course Leader for the MSc Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) at Bucks New University, which he has been instrumental in delivering and developing since its inception in 2012. He has previously taught at Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool Hope University, and Oxford Brookes University, all in the UK. His research interests span positive psychology, applied social psychology, and parapsychology.