The repeated narration of specific events and identity stability in mid-life

Abstract

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 empirical structure of narrative identity: The initial Big Three.

“…But the field continues to need exploratory, qualitative, generative work. Indeed, these other approaches help to illuminate aspects of narrative that we have not adequately addressed (see Adler, 2019; Dunlop, 2019; Fivush et al, 2019; McAdams, 2019; McLean et al, 2019), including the way narratives promote identity stability, which was not well-captured in the present endeavor (Pasupathi & Wainryb, 2019). Indeed, one of the strengths of the narrative identity literature is that it encompasses the use multiple levels of analysis to great effect.…”

“…We can also narrate events in ways that serve to explain or maintain a sense of stability in self, which may also be important to psychological functioning (McLean, 2008; Pasupathi et al, 2007). Capturing stability in various ways, such as stagnation or healthy consistency, may open up new ways of understanding narrative identity and well-being (Adler, 2019; Dunlop, 2019; Fivush, Habermas, & Reese, 2019; McLean, Köber, & Haraldsson, 2019; Pasupathi & Wainryb, 2019; Singer, 2019). Finally, in relation to both autobiographical reasoning and stability, researchers may also want to think about capturing the phenomenon of not making connections in narrative.…”

“…Capturing stability in various ways, such as stagnation or healthy consistency, may open up new ways of understanding narrative identity and well-being (Dunlop, 2018;Fivush, Habermas, & The Structure of Narrative Identity 50 Reese, 2018;McLean Köber, & Haraldsson, 2018;Pasupathi & Wainryb, 2018;Singer, 2018).…”

Examining the Longitudinal Associations Between Repeated Narration of Recent Transgressions Within Individuals’ Romantic Relationships and Character Growth in Empathy, Humility, and Compassion

“…Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004). Critically, these individual differences in narration can function to reinforce aspects of the self and thereby promote stability in narrative identity, or promote change and evolution in the life story (Adler, 2019; McLean et al., 2019; Syed & Azmitia, 2010; Thorne et al., 1998). The latter was the focus of this current study, where we examined whether individual differences in narrative style when reconstructing past relational transgressions facilitated character growth over time.…”