The Influence of Conversations through Transformational Processing: Narrative Identity Formation and Well-being
Date
2010
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Haverford College. Department of Psychology
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Thesis
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Award
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eng
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Haverford users only
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Abstract
Past research has shown that there are qualitative differences between processing positive and negative life events. This study attempted to test the influence of a conversation on the way in which individuals make sense of their life events. We predicted that the conversation would impact how individuals' narrative identities are transformed by the events as well as the degree to which individuals' well-being increased or decreased over two weeks. Furthermore, we expected that the personality of the individual processing the event would impact well-being two weeks after the conversation. Although the predicted effects on well-being and narrative identity were not observed, some findings lend support to the study's main hypotheses. This study has just begun to examine how conversations affect narrative identity and long-term well-being. More research should continue to focus on this topic to determine the most effective ways of processing positive events and working through negative events.