Seeing one's self: locating narrative memory in a framework of personality

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cognitive Science
• Personality Theory

Background:

• Individuals face challenges balancing internal and external stimuli.
• The concept of the I-Self offers a new framework for understanding personality organization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the I-Self framework and its principles.
• To explain how the I-Self shapes personality systems and Me-Selves.
• To discuss applications in research and psychotherapy.

Main Methods:

• The I-Self framework is conceptual, outlining principles of evaluation, categorization, and subsidiation.
• It describes the interaction of five personality systems: cognition, affect, motivation, behavior, and psychophysiology.
• It defines Me-Selves as comprising evaluations, categories, and temporal sequences.

Main Results:

• The I-Self framework organizes informational demands using three core principles.
• These principles foster the development of five interacting personality systems.
• The framework posits that Me-Selves, expressed through narrative, are central to personality structure.

Conclusions:

• The I-Self model provides a structured approach to understanding personality development and function.
• Narrative memory plays a crucial role in analyzing and understanding specific Me-Selves.
• This framework has potential applications for advancing psychological research and therapeutic interventions.