Self-identity continues through time; as an individual develops and changes, their narrative or life story grows with them, new chapters are affixed, and old memories are adjusted or revised. In the life story model of identity during late adolescence, individuals begin to combine past autobiographical memories, present experiences, and future aspirations to derive what is known as the ‘identity narrative’ (McAdams Dan, 2015). This cognitive ability to create a coherent life narrative, entails a number of developmental skills, including subjective consciousness, relating past to present self, and the capacity to amass a construct of identity through time (Fivush, 2011). The story remains somewhat stable, although as new experiences are encountered, the story is said to acclimate. For instance, when an individual experiences a role change (for example becoming a parent), their sense of self-sameness is challenged. It has been suggested that in these contexts the self-narrative may play an important role in maintaining a continuous sense of identity, providing a context for integration of new experiences through autobiographical arguments or transformational processing (Habermas & Reese, 2015).
Autobiographical arguments function to connect past experiences and events to the present self, and current life story. Thus, autobiographical reasoning is defined as the process of transforming autobiographical memories, or single event narratives, into autobiographical arguments to unify the life story (Habermas & Bluck, 2000). Three types of corresponding narrative text have been identified, single event narratives (e.g., my 21st birthday), secondly, chronicles or ‘list of events or extended time’ (e.g., my time in high school), and lastly, autobiographical arguments (e.g., reflections of the quality of relationship with parents). There is also an important distinction between discoherent narratives (single events that have not been linked) from incoherent narratives (the events are contradictory).
Importantly, studies have shown that there is a strong link between the integration of memories and sense of purpose, psychological well-being and post-traumatic growth. The life story is composed of an anthology of nuclear episodes, of peak and nadir experiences. Integration requires the narrator’s reflections about the meaning of these experiences or events. This is believed to relate to how the individual has mentally resolved these new challenges. Identity is never permanent. As the narrator faces new identity threats and challenges, and role changes, they attempt to integrate these different experiences into the life story, which is often referred to as ‘assimilation’. Alternatively, the narrator is thought to use ‘accommodation’ or ‘autobiographical reasoning’ to alter the life story, and acclimatize to the new information, altering views of self and other (Lodi-Smith, 2015). Identity is fluid and forever changing. Therefore, a well-integrated identity is thought to be one that can easily assimilate or accommodate changes to the identity structure (Syed, 2017).
For example, a recent study exploring identity narrative integration was conducted with 26 inmates from Cyprus prison department, aged 16-25. The study found that different mechanisms were used to integrate multiple identities. Specifically, the convicts used engagement, commitment, and detachment. Most importantly, detachment was used in a constructive way, to distance themselves from their past negative identities, and together with future goals achieve desistance (Solomontos-Kountouri & Hatzittofi, 2016).
In summary, an essential component of self-identity is the integration of a person’s past experiences into their identity narrative. Successful integration is associated with better psychological health. Conversely, unintegrated identity narratives are associated with post-traumatic stress and psychological distress.
References:
Fivush, R. (2011). The development of autobiographical memory. Annu Rev Psychol, 62, 559-582. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.121208.131702
Habermas, T., & Bluck, S. (2000). Getting a life: The emergence of the life story in adolescence. Psychological Bulletin, 126(5), 748-769. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.126.5.748
Habermas, T., & Reese, E. (2015). Getting a Life Takes Time: The Development of the Life Story in Adolescence, Its Precursors and Consequences. Human Development, 58(3), 172-201. doi:10.1159/000437245
Lodi-Smith, J. (2015). Narrative Utility and Self-Concept Clarity in Contextual Personality Research. European Journal of Personality, 29(3), 336-337. doi:10.1002/per.2006
McAdams Dan, P. (2015). Life Story. The Encyclopedia of Adulthood and Aging. doi:doi:10.1002/9781118521373.wbeaa141
Solomontos-Kountouri, O., & Hatzittofi, P. (2016). Brief report: Past, present, emergent and future identities of young inmates. Journal of Adolescence, 47, 119-124. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.10.022
Syed, M. (2017). Identity integration across cultural transitions: Bridging individual and societal change. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 27(2), 105-114. doi:10.1080/14330237.2017.1301675