The development of narrative identity in late adolescence and emergent adulthood: the continued importance of listeners

Dev Psychol. 2009 Mar;45(2):558-74. doi: 10.1037/a0014431.

Abstract

Research on narrative identity in late adolescence and early adulthood has not extensively examined how conversational storytelling affects the development of narrative identity. This is a major gap, given the importance of this age period for narrative identity development and the clear importance of parent-child conversations in the development of narrative identity. The authors present a series of 3 studies (n = 220) examining how late adolescents and early adults construct narrative identity in ways that are shaped by their listeners. The findings suggest that late adolescents and early adults construct more meaning-laden, interpretive accounts of their everyday experiences when they converse with responsive friends. Further, even within this sample's abbreviated age range, the authors found evidence for age-related increases in the factual content of personal memories. Such findings illuminate the importance of friends in the construction of narrative identity during this key developmental period.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Attention
  • Communication
  • Female
  • Friends / psychology
  • Humans
  • Individuality
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Male
  • Mental Recall*
  • Narration*
  • Parent-Child Relations
  • Personal Construct Theory
  • Psychology, Adolescent*
  • Self Concept*
  • Young Adult