Journal Article

“I’m just who I am”: self-continuity and the dialogical self in a study of migrants

Abstract

Drawing on Dialogical Self Theory this study aimed to develop understanding of the processes of self- continuity in migrants with complex trajectories. Twelve participants of various nationalities and ages took part in qualitative interviews in the UK and USA. An iterative, threestep analysis for multivoicedness suggested participants initially adopted stabilizing I-positions which acted as foundations for subsequent development and evolution of new selves. A clear and dynamic progression of positioning, repositioning, and innovation in the dialogical self emerged. Findings suggest that change and rupture may act as catalysts for positive development and innovation, resulting in a robust, enhanced sense of self-continuity.

Attached files

Authors

Bourke, Kenna
de Abreu, Guida
Rathbone, Clare J.

Oxford Brookes departments

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences\Department of Psychology, Health and Professional Development

Dates

Year of publication: 2018
Date of RADAR deposit: 2018-05-14

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License

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Related resources

This RADAR resource is the Accepted Manuscript of “I’m just who I am”: self-continuity and the dialogical self in a study of migrants