Narrative Psychology
Encyclopedia
Narrative psychology is a viewpoint or a stance within psychology
, it is not a subfield of psychology
, concerned with the "storied nature of human conduct" (Sarbin
, 1986) or in other words how human beings deal with experience by constructing stories and listening to the stories of others. The very notion of it is that human activity and experience
are filled with "meaning" and stories, rather than logical arguments or lawful formulations, are "the vehicle by which that meaning is communicated"; such dichotomy is found in Jerome S. Bruner (1986, 1990, 1991) as a distinction between "paradigmatic" and "narrative
" forms of thought, in his understanding they are both fundamental but irreducible one to the another.
According to Sarbin (1986) "narrative" is a root metaphor for psychology that should replace the mechanistic and organic metaphors which shaped so much theory and research in the discipline over the past century. The indisputable physical events of a personal occurrence are different from a story
that results from the storied cause and effect
relationships. (McKinnon)
"The theory of stories are defined as an overt interpretation, the event being increasingly contextually dependent on the ability of the individual "reading-out" the story and the act of a writer authoring a story." (Chatman). Chatman's precise structuring of discourse
is fundamental to the critical nature of understanding Narrative Psychology. Independent of any fiction
in the actual physical matter told, are physical events that are as unequivocal as quantum mechanics
and human chemistry. The epistemological aspect - the science of the matter - is undiscovered without the study of Narrative Psychology and the valid theories defined by the founder's of Narrative Psychology.
Because Narrative Psychology continues to be defined, an excellent reference is: Narrative Psychology, Professor of Narrative Psychology Vincent Hevern -Le Moyne University.
The first accredited degree in Narrative Psychology as a science was awarded to John D. McKinnon (2001) University of Wisconsin - Green Bay.
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, it is not a subfield of psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, concerned with the "storied nature of human conduct" (Sarbin
Theodore R. Sarbin
Theodore Roy Sarbin , known as "Ted Sarbin", was an American psychologist and professor emeritus of psychology and criminology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He was known as "Mr. Role Theory" because of his contributions to the social psychology of role-taking.- Biography :Sarbin was...
, 1986) or in other words how human beings deal with experience by constructing stories and listening to the stories of others. The very notion of it is that human activity and experience
Experience
Experience as a general concept comprises knowledge of or skill in or observation of some thing or some event gained through involvement in or exposure to that thing or event....
are filled with "meaning" and stories, rather than logical arguments or lawful formulations, are "the vehicle by which that meaning is communicated"; such dichotomy is found in Jerome S. Bruner (1986, 1990, 1991) as a distinction between "paradigmatic" and "narrative
Narrative
A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
" forms of thought, in his understanding they are both fundamental but irreducible one to the another.
According to Sarbin (1986) "narrative" is a root metaphor for psychology that should replace the mechanistic and organic metaphors which shaped so much theory and research in the discipline over the past century. The indisputable physical events of a personal occurrence are different from a story
Narrative
A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
that results from the storied cause and effect
Cause and effect
Cause and effect refers to the philosophical concept of causality, in which an action or event will produce a certain response to the action in the form of another event....
relationships. (McKinnon)
"The theory of stories are defined as an overt interpretation, the event being increasingly contextually dependent on the ability of the individual "reading-out" the story and the act of a writer authoring a story." (Chatman). Chatman's precise structuring of discourse
Discourse
Discourse generally refers to "written or spoken communication". The following are three more specific definitions:...
is fundamental to the critical nature of understanding Narrative Psychology. Independent of any fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
in the actual physical matter told, are physical events that are as unequivocal as quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
and human chemistry. The epistemological aspect - the science of the matter - is undiscovered without the study of Narrative Psychology and the valid theories defined by the founder's of Narrative Psychology.
Because Narrative Psychology continues to be defined, an excellent reference is: Narrative Psychology, Professor of Narrative Psychology Vincent Hevern -Le Moyne University.
The first accredited degree in Narrative Psychology as a science was awarded to John D. McKinnon (2001) University of Wisconsin - Green Bay.