Narrative identity is the process of constructing one's own life story through memory and imagination, which involves creating meaning from past experiences to understand who they are and how they fit into their social world. In everyday language, this can be referred to as "the stories we tell ourselves" or "our personal mythology." Research shows that narrative identity plays an important role in resolving interpersonal conflicts because it allows individuals to make sense of their experiences and formulate their identity within a given situation.
In relational conflict resolution, both parties may have different perceptions of what happened and why. This discrepancy leads to misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and a breakdown in communication.
If each person has access to their narrative identity, they can use it to reframe their experience in a way that brings them closer together rather than farther apart.
If Person A believes that Person B acted maliciously towards them but Person B feels like they were simply misunderstood, they could engage in dialogue about their differing perspectives and work towards finding common ground.
To help with this process, the following techniques can be used:
1. Active listening - Encourage each party to listen attentively to the other's perspective without interrupting or judging.
2. Reflective statements - Paraphrase back what you hear the other person saying to check for understanding.
3. Empathy-building questions - Ask questions that show you care about the other person's feelings and needs.
4. Narrative inquiry - Invite each party to share their story in more detail, allowing them to express themselves fully.
5. Storytelling - Allow each party to construct a new narrative based on their shared experience, emphasizing similarities over differences.
6. Reframing - Help the parties find alternative interpretations of events that emphasize positive outcomes rather than negative ones.
By using these techniques, individuals can better understand each other's point of view and find resolution through narrative identity. In doing so, they may even strengthen their relationship by creating a shared sense of meaning from their conflict experience.
What role does narrative identity play in relational conflict resolution?
Narrative identities are stories we tell ourselves about ourselves, including our past experiences, present situation, and future goals. They help us make sense of the world around us by connecting individual events into a coherent story that gives meaning and structure to our lives. In relational conflicts, these identities can become particularly salient as each party's interpretation of their respective roles, responsibilities, and expectations can differ significantly.