Departures: the Relation of Master Narrative Deviations to the Self

Abstract

Building on research examining the role of cultural and social forces in shaping narrative, this study examined the content of master narrative deviations, as well as the interrelationship between such deviations, experiences of telling others about them, and personality characteristics. Seventy-eight participants provided narratives of master narrative deviations and of telling such deviations. They also completed Loevinger’s ego development task and several measures of well-being. The results suggest that feelings of deviating from master narratives occur in a wider variety of domains than previous studies have suggested. They also suggest that feeling silenced may spur processes of ego development. Further, ego level may be important in determining the effects of telling experiences on narrative identity. For example, a positive telling experience seems to promote counter narrative development in individuals with low ego levels; the same effect is not present in individuals with higher ego levels. Findings are discussed in light of the need for more research on how individual differences affect identity processes.