Narrative identity
The theory of Narrative identity postulates that individuals form an identity by integrating their life experiences into an internalized, evolving story of the self that provides the individual with a sense of unity and purpose in life. This life narrative integrates one’s reconstructed past, perceived present, and imagined future. Furthermore, this narrative is a story – it has characters, episodes, imagery, a setting, plots, and themes and often follows the traditional model of a story, having a beginning (initiating event), middle (an attempt and a consequence), and an end (denouement). Narrative identity is the focus of interdisciplinary research, with deep roots in psychology.
In recent decades, a proliferation of psychological research on narrative identity has provided a strong empirical basis for the construct, cutting across the field, including personality psychology, social psychology, developmental and life-span psychology, cognitive psychology, cultural psychology, and clinical and counseling psychology.
The narrative theory of self posits that personal identity is constructed through the life stories individuals tell about themselves. This theory suggests that we create a sense of continuity and meaning by organizing our experiences into a coherent narrative with characters, plots, and themes. In this view, individuals are both the authors and the protagonists of their own stories, which helps them make sense of their past, present, and future.
How it works
Storytelling: We tell stories about our lives, weaving together past events, current experiences, and future aspirations to create a sense of who we are.
Coherence and meaning: By organizing events into a narrative, we give our lives meaning and a sense of continuity, even through significant challenges or changes.
Dynamic process: Self-making is an active and ongoing process. We continuously revise our life story as we integrate new experiences, which can lead to a changing sense of self.
Agency and action: Our self-narratives influence our actions. We tend to live out the stories we tell about ourselves, and future decisions can lead to different life paths.
Narrator and protagonist: In this theory, a person is both the narrator who interprets events and the protagonist who acts within the story.
Selective remembering: The process of creating a self-narrative involves selectively remembering and interpreting events, which shapes our self-perception.
Cultural influence: Our narratives are influenced by social contexts, culture, and peers.
Potential limitations
Diminished value: A potential critique is that this theory might diminish the worth of lives that are not perceived as having a “compelling” story, as noted by.
Ego-centric focus: There is a risk that emphasizing the “main character” in our own story could lead to a form of myopia, potentially diminishing the importance of others in their own narratives, suggests.
Overemphasis on narrative: Critics also suggest that this view may overlook other important dimensions of the self, such as minimal experiential elements, according to .
AI responses may include mistakes.
[2] https://fiveable.me/key-terms/intro-philosophy/narrative-theory
[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/narrative-identity
[5] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781118970843.ch48
The narrative view in the philosophy of identity proposes that a person’s identity is constructed through the creation of an internalized, evolving story of their life, which integrates past, present, and future experiences into a coherent whole. This life narrative provides a sense of unity and purpose, where the individual sees themselves as the protagonist in their own story, making sense of their thoughts, feelings, and actions. This perspective suggests that to understand who a person is, one must understand the story they tell about themselves.
Key aspects of the narrative view
Identity as a story:
Personal identity is not a static entity but is shaped by the ongoing process of telling and re-telling a life story that has a beginning, middle, and end.
Coherence and unity:
The narrative integrates disparate life experiences—memories, beliefs, goals, and events—into a unified and meaningful whole, providing a sense of continuity over time.
The self as a protagonist:
The individual is cast as the main character in their own life’s story, and this “protagonist” role provides a central point of coherence for all other aspects of their being.
Interpretation and selection:
This process is not a simple recording of events but involves selective interpretation, where individuals choose which experiences are central to their identity and which are incidental.
Dynamic and evolving:
The narrative of identity is not fixed; it is a dynamic construct that evolves as new experiences are integrated and the individual reflects on their life and future possibilities.
Active self-creation:
The narrative view emphasizes that creating one’s identity is an active, conscious process of self-making, influenced by both internal reflection and social and cultural contexts.
Link to action and ethics:
The stories we tell ourselves are linked to the actions we take. A person’s narrative can influence their choices, and a compelling narrative may be seen as essential for living a meaningful life.
“Identity of lives” refers to the collection of individual roles, values, beliefs, and traits that make up who a person is, while “narrative identity” is the story people tell themselves to create a coherent sense of self by weaving these life experiences into a meaningful life story. The former is the set of raw materials, and the latter is the process of constructing a story from them to make sense of one’s past, present, and future.
Identity of Lives Narrative Identity of Self
Definition The sum of roles (e.g., mother, teacher), values, beliefs, and characteristics that define an individual. The ongoing story an individual creates to make sense of their life, providing a sense of continuity, purpose, and meaning.
Nature A composite of characteristics, which can include personality, achievements, gender, ethnicity, nationality, social status, and beliefs. A dynamic and evolving story that gives structure to one’s life experiences, reflecting on past events and anticipating future aspirations.
Key Idea The “who” of a person, often determined by a combination of personal traits and social roles. The “how” of a person’s life, framed by a personal narrative that connects events and provides a sense of selfhood.
Example A person’s identity might include being a “doctor,” “parent,” and “atheist”. The person might then create a narrative where their journey to becoming a doctor is a story of overcoming adversity, which then frames their identity as a caring and dedicated professional.
Coherence The elements may exist without being integrated into a single, cohesive whole. The process of integrating these elements into a coherent story is what creates a stable sense of self.
Challenges A person can experience a confusion or “identity crisis” if these roles or values are challenged by major life events. The coherence of the narrative is essential; if the story is fragmented, it can lead to a lack of meaning and direction, also causing an identity crisis.