Composing the self: examining dynamics of meaning and agency in narratives of authenticity and self-transformation

This mixed-methods study examined how autobiographical narratives of authentic, inauthentic, and transformative experiences relate to retrospective self-attributions of meaning and agency. Narratives were analyzed using established deductive thematic coding schemes alongside a novel system designed to capture state-level indicators of self-environment fit. An international sample of 171 adults completed narrative prompts and retrospective self-report measures. Narratives were coded using the SAFE framework, capturing self-concept, goal, and social fit, in addition to thematic content. Analyses included MANOVA, hierarchical regression, and mediation models. Results indicated that self-concept fit was the most consistent predictor of meaning. Authentic narratives were associated with higher meaning and agency, whereas inauthentic narratives were associated with lower levels. Transformative narratives were more strongly related to the search for meaning. Retrospective existential comprehension fully mediated the relationship between self-concept fit and meaning, highlighting the role of self-environment fit in constructing coherent self-narratives.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Year dc:date.available

2027

Author dc:creator

• Schaublin, Matthew J

Contributors dc:contributor

• Shelton, Jill T.
• Huber, Thomas; Silver, Christopher; Bardi, Carl
• College of Arts and Sciences

• Narrative therapy
• Constructivism (Psychology)
• Personal construct therapy
• Ego (Psychology)
• Transpersonal psychology
• Psychotherapy--Methodology

Licence

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

English, eng

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/1084

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.utc.edu:theses-2270