The stories we tell about ourselves reveal ourselves, construct ourselves, and sustain ourselves through time (Bruner, 1990; Habermas & Bluck, 2000; Hammack, 2011; McAdams, 2001; McLean, Pasupathi, & Pals, 2007; Pasupathi, 2001; Pasupathi, Mansour, & Brubaker, 2007; Sarbin, 1986; Singer, 2004). Constructing stories about memorable and significant events in our lives, making meaning of them, then linking them together to form a more extensive life story, and revising them as new information and events arise, and as self-understanding develops, is a powerful and dynamic mechanism of psychological functioning.
We are what we are because we have been what we have been.
Sigmund Freud
Critically, in recalling a past event, it is not the event itself central to a personological understanding, but rather the meaning is in how the individual constructs the event in narrative form (Bruner, 1990; Fivush, 2001; McAdams, 1985; Sarbin, 1986). This means that researchers interested in this subjective construction are tasked with capturing the narrative features most relevant to psychological functioning.
Curiously some experiences do not become integrated into our broader sense of self-understanding, while others do form part of our self-narrative. The experiences integrated into our life stories are those experiences from which we draw meaning. These seemingly significant events are reflected upon and subsequently assimilated into our overall self-narrative.
Individual differences in self-narratives have repeatedly demonstrated significant concurrent and prospective associations with well-being (Adler et al., 2016). Changes in narrative variables have been shown to precede associated changes in well-being. For instance, generally, more positive or redemptive narratives are associated with more positive well-being, and more negative or contaminated narratives are associated with higher levels of distress and lower levels of well-being (e.g., Adler & Hershfield, 2012; Dunlop & Tracy, 2013; Lodi-Smith, Geise, Roberts, & Robins, 2009; McAdams et al., 2001).
While reflection is the foundation of healthy narrative constructions, rumination is thought to be an obstructing constituent. Reflection engenders insight and wisdom, leading to psychological growth. Conversely, fixation and the slide into rumination lead to high distress levels and poor psychological functioning. Essentially, healthy narratives require satisfactory conclusions (McAdams & McLean, 2013).
By reflecting upon significant life experiences, the possibility of cognitively processing and reconsidering what occurred in these past experiences is created, leading to an opportunity for psychological growth.