In this case-study based qualitative analysis, we sought to examine the question of stability in narrative identity. We did this by examining four mid-life adults, who each provided two life story interviews, four years apart as a part of a larger study. Two of these participants were deemed 'low repeaters,' for having little repetition of manifest narrative content (i.e., actual
The present studies focused on the role and socialization of biographical master narratives – cultural narratives that prescribe the types and ordering of events that should occur in one’s personal life identity narrative – by focusing on adolescent and emerging adult gender identity development. We employed a combined explanatory and triangulation mixed methods design. Study 1a ( n = 414) was a survey study examining the expected biographical master narrative events for men and women, and the content of master narrative deviation and conformity in an emerging adult sample. In Study 1b ( n = 14) we interviewed participants from Study 1a about their conformity and deviation narratives, as well as their socialization experiences regarding gendered biographical master narratives. In Study 2 mothers and adolescents ( n = 11 pairs), engaged in conversation about expected life course events, as well as a follow-up interview about their conversation. We first found that there are more gender differences in the personal experiences of conformity to and deviation from master narratives compared to the expectations of the life course (Study 1a). Second, deviating is related to more engagement in identity processes (Study 1a). Third, emerging adults report contradictions in retrospective reports of socialization messages regarding expectations (Study 1b), a finding confirmed in a discourse analysis of mothers and their adolescents (Study 2). Overall, across the studies, we see that (a) adolescents and emerging adults are engaged in a delicate balance of negotiating between various cultural and familial messages, as well as personal experiences, about gender identity particularly in regards to gender equality and, (b) there is a complex relation between socialization messages about gender equality that may make some biographical master narratives about the expected life course events for men and women more resistant to change.
The concept of personal continuity is central to most theories of identity development, and one way it can be established is through the development of narrative identity. Narrative identity is represented by a story that is built through processes of autobiographical reasoning about the past, present, and future self. Building on the substantial literature focused on individual processes of personal reflection, the present study expands beyond the examination of the individual to explore the role that socio-cultural groups, and their shared narratives, play in personal continuity. In a qualitative and descriptive study, 13 adult children of immigrants, aged 18-52, were interviewed about their personal stories, the stories of their parents, and of their social group. Social constructivist grounded theory was used to analyze the interviews to examine the relationship between personal continuity and these three levels of narrative.Participants employed three different larger narrative structures to make sense of their own experiences in a larger context: The American Immigrant Story, The Origin Story, and The American Ethnic Minority Story. Each story differed in the focus on continuity between past and present versus present and future, as well as in the socialization agents for each story (i.e., family or peers). Overall, participants can create a sense of personal continuity by seeing themselves as part of a larger, continuously developing group narrative, though there are variations in how this is accomplished. Implications include the role of group narratives in personal identity development.
In this case-study based qualitative analysis, we sought to examine the question of stability in narrative identity. We did this by examining four mid-life adults, who each provided two life story interviews, four years apart as a part of a larger study. Two of these participants were deemed ‘low repeaters,’ for having little repetition of manifest narrative content (i.e., actual events repeated at the two interviews). Two were deemed ‘high repeaters’ for having a much greater number of repeated manifest content. Our analysis focused on similarities between the low repeaters and the high repeaters, as well as the differences between them, with the aim of theory-building in the domain of narrative identity stability. Broadly, our analyses revealed that low repetition can occur for a variety of reasons including methodological factors, the occurrence of new life events between interviews, and traumatic history. High repetition can also occur for multiple reasons including performative concerns and conformity to cultural norms regarding life scripts. We offer these analyses as fodder for building theory regarding the phenomenology of identity stability, and its meaning for psychological functioning.
The present studies focused on the role and socialization of biographical master narratives – cultural narratives that prescribe the types and ordering of events that should occur in one’s personal life identity narrative – by focusing on adolescent and emerging adult gender identity development. We employed a combined explanatory and triangulation mixed methods design. Study 1a (n = 414) was a survey study examining the expected biographical master narrative events for men and women, and the content of master narrative deviation and conformity in an emerging adult sample. In Study 1b (n = 14) we interviewed participants from Study 1a about their conformity and deviation narratives, as well as their socialization experiences regarding gendered biographical master narratives. In Study 2 mothers and adolescents (n = 11 pairs), engaged in conversation about expected life course events, as well as a follow-up interview about their conversation. We first found that there are more gender differences in the personal experiences of conformity to and deviation from master narratives compared to the expectations of the life course (Study 1a). Second, deviating is related to more engagement in identity processes (Study 1a). Third, emerging adults report contradictions in retrospective reports of socialization messages regarding expectations (Study 1b), a finding confirmed in a discourse analysis of mothers and their adolescents (Study 2). Overall, across the studies, we see that 1) adolescents and emerging adults are engaged in a delicate balance of negotiating between various cultural and familial messages, as well as personal experiences, about gender identity particularly in regards to gender equality and, 2) there is a complex relation between socialization messages about gender equality that may make some biographical master narratives about the expected life course events for men and women more resistant to change.
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