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  1. Home
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  3. Handbook of Dialogical Self Theory
  • Cited by 57
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Online publication date:
June 2012
Print publication year:
2011
Online ISBN:
9781139030434
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139030434
Subjects:
Social Psychology, Psychology
Information

Book description

In a boundary-crossing and globalizing world, the personal and social positions in self and identity become increasingly dense, heterogeneous and even conflicting. In this handbook scholars of different disciplines, nations and cultures (East and West) bring together their views and applications of dialogical self theory in such a way that deeper commonalities are brought to the surface. As a 'bridging theory', dialogical self theory reveals unexpected links between a broad variety of phenomena, such as self and identity problems in education and psychotherapy, multicultural identities, child-rearing practices, adult development, consumer behaviour, the use of the internet and the value of silence. Researchers and practitioners present different methods of investigation, both qualitative and quantitative, and also highlight applications of dialogical self theory.

Reviews

'This is an incredibly engaging and comprehensive text that builds on the evolving dialogical self theory, applies the model to several fascinating and diverse global cases and still finds room to explain in thoughtful detail how to utilize these ideas in improving people’s lives. What you have in the Handbook of Dialogical Self Theory is a comprehensive guide to the theoretical understanding, analysis, and practice of dialogical self theory with diverse case examples and multiple illustrations of its usefulness and practicality in a complex and changing world.'

Jack S. Kahn - California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University

‘This is a truly comprehensive examination of the multiple and diverse aspects of the emerging field of dialogical self studies. From a theoretical, methodological and practical vantage point an international group of scholars lays out the promises and possibilities of what will surely become an exciting field of inquiry as well as a foundation for new practices.’

Henderikus J. Stam - University of Calgary

‘The 'dialogical self' is among the most important and original new theories in the social sciences in the past 20 years. It is a theory for our times, addressing in complex and insightful ways the ways that globalization affects psychological functioning. In this book, the theory is presented lucidly and thoroughly, covering an impressive range not only in psychology but also sociology, economics, philosophy, and political studies. The book should be welcome in all those fields as a major contribution to the understanding of globalization.’

Jeffrey Jensen Arnett - Clark University

‘Longing for a 'big picture' look at dialogical self theory? Look no further! Besides providing detailed examinations of the theory itself, this handbook presents a plethora of ways to apply DST to research, psychotherapy, and education. DST scholars and practitioners will not be disappointed!’

Jonathan D. Raskin - State University of New York

'Handbook of Dialogical Self Theory is a comprehensive consolidation of recent advances in the theory and practice of dialogical self theory (DST). The collection of 27 chapters provides a comprehensive explication of DST as a 'bridging theory' … the handbook provides an excellent resource upon which further innovative theoretical, research, and practical positions should be built. More important, readers who engage with the content will be changed by it: never again will you use phrases like 'sense of self' without feeling that someone, somewhere has something very different and important to say on the matter.'

Gavin Sullivan Source: PsycCRITIQUES

'For those interested in DST, Hermans and Gieser’s volume is a valuable and important contribution to the literature. And for those who are just curious and want to know more, they too will be rewarded. It is a rich, comprehensive compendium featuring many of the central players in the DST movement and it explores the idea of the dialogical self with a kind of earnestness and sense of purpose that many will find appealing.'

Mark Freeman Source: Theory and Psychology

'The editors of this work are among the leading representatives of narrative psychology and creators of dialogical self theory (DST) … Of particular value is the fact that the authors represented are from Africa, India, Japan and China, in addition to traditional, Western centers of science … [This volume] merits use as an academic textbook on DST [and] … will interest 'humanists', including anthropologists, linguists, sociologists, psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, doctors and even business psychologists … Authors of individual chapters use a clear and lively style, so the concepts described will interest even those readers unfamiliar with the topic.'

Mariusz Wołońciej Source: International Journal for Dialogical Science

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Contents

Page 2 of 2

Contents
  • 20 - Dialogically oriented therapies and the role of poor metacognition in personality disorders
    pp 356-373
  • View abstract

    Summary

    In this chapter, using a correlation approach, the authors comment on selected personality correlates of the internal dialogical activity, which seems to challenge dialogical self theory (DST). According to the five-factor theory of personality, the core components of the personality system are basic tendencies, characteristic adaptations and self-concept. The author explores how dialogicality is related to each of the three levels of personality. Provided that people differ in the intensity of dialogicality, and that these differences can be empirically assessed, they construct a scale to measure the general intensity of inner dialogues according to the individual differences approach. The authors define internal dialogical activity as engagement in dialogues with imagined figures, the simulation of social dialogical relationships in one's own thoughts, and the mutual confrontation of the points of view representing different I-positions relevant to personal and/or social identity.
  • 21 - Reconstructing the self in the wake of loss: a dialogical contribution
    pp 374-389
  • View abstract

    Summary

    This chapter aims to show how dialogical self theory (DST) can inspire empirical research in creative writers. DST proposes that dialogue in and of itself is a dynamic process achieved by the exchange of ideas between the I-positions which represent different parts of the self, or various points of view present in the environment and culture. The chapter introduces innovative concepts and is an interdisciplinary enterprise in which one can connect psychology, psychobiography and the theory of literature. The participants are recognized Polish novelists who have agreed to reveal something important about their writing processes and about the relationships with their novelistic figures. Analysing the results of the spatial self-representation procedure and the interviews, the authors found three kinds of relationships between the author's I-position and the characters' I-positions: the author as an omniscient expert, the author as a spectator, and the author as a partner of the novelistic figure.
  • 22 - Creating dialogical space in psychotherapy: meaning-generating chronotope ofma
    pp 390-404
  • View abstract

    Summary

    Dialogical self theory (DST) has something very important to propose to mainstream psychology. This chapter outlines such a proposal, which one can call as a model of the discursive mind. Discursive mind model is based on the thesis of the cognitive system's discursive organization. Different modules contain specific cognitive-affective resources, shaped by different ways of giving meaning to personal experience. There are three fundamental assumptions of the discursive mind model: the modular character of one's knowledge structures, the social origin of one's knowledge structures, and the specificity of the knowledge structures for the social context from which they stem. According to the discursive mind model, I-positions are relatively autonomic modules of the cognitive system, which consist of script-like structures combining personal and socially shared knowledge. The model of the discursive mind assumes that the activation of different I-positions within the same person causes significant intra-individual variations in cognitive functioning.
  • 23 - Therapeutic applications of dialogues in dialogical action therapy
    pp 405-422
  • View abstract

    Summary

    Central to dialogical self theory (DST) is the notion that the self is organized as a dialogical interchange between mutually influencing I-positions in the society of the mind. This chapter presents a case study of an inner conflict to illustrate the internal negotiation process and to outline its characteristics and dynamics. It demonstrates how different I-positions put forward their needs and claims in a back-and-forth communication until a decision is made. Then, using well-established criteria from the field of interpersonal negotiation, the chapter presents several hypothetical resolutions to the inner conflict and illustrates the differences between distributive and integrative internal negotiations. The chapter discusses the notion of transforming win-lose internal decisions into integrative win-win resolutions. It delineates a four-stage negotiational self theory (NST) intervention method, designed to direct systematically the inner conflict towards a collaborative and integrative resolution.
  • 24 - The depositioning of theI: emotional coaching in the context of transcendental awareness
    pp 423-438
  • View abstract

    Summary

    This chapter explores a dialogical process through which innovation is aborted in psychotherapy a cyclical movement between two opposing voices, one dominant that organizes the client's problematic self-narrative, and one innovative, non-dominant voice. Self-narrative presents a meaningful framework of understanding life experiences, triggering repetition. Dominant self-narratives are characterized by an asymmetrical relationship between the different I-positions involved. The emergence of innovative moments (IMs) leads the self to strive to restore its sense of continuity, protecting itself from uncertainty, by aborting novelty exploration and returning to the dominant previous self-narrative. The chapter discusses this defensive movement facing innovation, which, if persistent during psychotherapeutic treatment, could lead to an unsuccessful outcome. It describes two implications of the work for dialogical self theory (DST): the dialogical functions of reconceptualization, as a particular form of metaposition, and the way multiplicity in the self produces stability or change.
  • 25 - The dialogical self and educational research: a fruitful relationship
    pp 439-453
  • View abstract

    Summary

    Dialogical self theory (DST) possesses high face validity and connects with personal experience of an internal dialogue and the tensions of indecision. This chapter argues that a methodology is needed which will enable an analysis of the relation between the social and the psychological. It examines how perspectives within the social world become perspectives within the dialogical self. The chapter focuses on three distinctive approaches: the self-confrontation, the personal-position repertoire and the use of bi-plots to map internal and external I-positions. It illustrates the benefits of these methodologies in enabling us to address particular questions but also to highlight that existing methodologies do not enable us to examine the relation between the voices within the dialogical self and the actual perspectives of significant others in the social environment. The interpersonal perception method (IPM) examines the relation between what people think other people think and what those other people actually think.
  • 27 - Navigating inconsistent consumption preferences at multiple levels of the dialogical self
    pp 470-487
  • View abstract

    Summary

    This chapter argues that one of the main advantages of the dialogical self approach in psychotherapy is that it offers, in the concept of I-positions, a more effective way of approaching the multiplicity within the person. The I-positions offer a way of talking which neatly sidesteps the problem of reification inherent in such older concepts as subpersonalities, and ego states and parts. The main advantage of I-positions is that there is no suggestion with them of subordination, of their being lesser in some way than the whole person. The transpersonal is a vast realm for psychotherapy, counselling and coaching, and it has been emerging as a really important aspect of the therapeutic engagement over the past 30-odd years. The chapter illustrates the point that dialogical work can lead us into some very deep areas, and may suggest ways of working which are theoretically quite unusual.
  • Epilogue
    pp 488-496
  • A philosophical epilogue on the question of autonomy
  • View abstract

    Summary

    Psychopathology can be seen as a dysfunction in the inner and interpersonal dialogues people conduct with both internalized and real-world others, and psychotherapy as a dialogical co-construction of meaning. This chapter focuses on persons with personality disorders (PD) with limited ability to perceive and describes their inner world and poor understanding of what is passing through others' minds. In a dialogical therapy context, the chapter develops the idea that in persons with PD a barrier to healing is their inability to describe aspects of themselves and others in mentalistic terms, thus preventing the formation of a full-fledged, flexible, adaptive and open-to-innovation dialogical self. The chapter overviews the common aspects of dialogically oriented therapies. It provides an overview of what metacognitive dysfunctions are, and why they hamper healing. The chapter discusses technique elements that may help in treating more severe sufferers by taking into account their metacognitive disorders.

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