ERIC Number: EJ831486
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Mar
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0012-1649
EISSN: N/A
The Development of Narrative Identity in Late Adolescence and Emergent Adulthood: The Continued Importance of Listeners
Pasupathi, Monisha; Hoyt, Timothy
Developmental Psychology, v45 n2 p558-574 Mar 2009
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. (Contains 3 footnotes, 3 tables, and 3 figures.)
Descriptors: Story Telling, Late Adolescents, Adolescents, Parent Child Relationship, Interpersonal Communication, Age Differences, Listening, Adults, Introductory Courses, Psychology, Undergraduate Students
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Utah
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A