PSC 156 Chapter 4 Life Mcadams Narratives Whitbourne Identity Theory

What is conversational remembering? What does it do for a person and what could it create?

Elaboration of past experiences = memory

consolidation

• Assists with creating/maintaining social bonds

• Particularly important for older adults’ sense of

identity → meaning-making

• Can lead to a more positive perception

• Conversational remembering → false memories

What is McAdams Narrative identity?

 Change in identity – creating a life story

 Influenced by sociocultural forces

 (re)creating one’s life story can include both

explicit and implicit processes

 End goal: a story that is coherent and integrated

 Telling one’s life story is a joint product of

speaker and listener

 Can involve conversational remembering

A life story is based on past, present, and future (i.e., who they will become)

• It is created and revised throughout adulthood as people change and the changing

environment places different demands on them

• Generativity marks the attempt to create an appealing “ending” that will generate new

beginnings for future generations

(Would be in identity vs confusion)

Difference between

Erikson’s theory

and McAdam’s

Narrative Identity

theory?

Erikson offers a developmental, stage-based model focused on resolving crises at specific life periods, while McAdams proposes a cognitive, story-based model focusing on how individuals construct a "life story" to create meaning and unity in their lives autobiographical author" (the third layer of personality) who constructs a personal, evolving, and internalized story to provide life with purpose and unity

What is Whitbourne’s identity Theory?

Argues that people build conceptions of how their lives should proceed

• The life-span construct has two parts:

• A scenario (the map for how our plans will unfold)

• A life story (an autobiography)

• Piaget’s concepts of assimilation and accommodation are integral in changes.

Holds no evidence for stages

• Life transitions not related to age

• A constantly changing identity (via

accommodation) = poor psychological health

• Identity assimilation = positive self-regard,

successful aging

Which of the following statements best aligns with Whitbourne’s

Identity Theory regarding identity and psychological health?

A. People undergo identity changes primarily during specific life stages

tied to age-related transitions.

B. Frequent accommodation of identity leads to poor psychological

health due to a lack of stability.

C. Identity assimilation undermines psychological well-being by

preventing necessary adaptation to life changes.

D. A stable identity is best maintained by avoiding both accommodation

and assimilation.

B

Yuki, a 68-year-old, has always viewed herself as a strong,

independent person. Recently, she broke her leg and needed help

from her family for daily tasks. Instead of feeling discouraged,

Yuki reframed the situation as a temporary setback that doesn’t

change her sense of independence. According to Whitbourne’s

Identity Theory, which process is Yuki most likely using?

A. Identity foreclosure

B. Identity diffusion

C. Identity accommodation

D. Identity assimilation

D

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates Whitbourne’s Identity

Theory? Which best illustrates McAdams’ Narrative Identity Theory?

A. Kei reflects on her life and identifies recurring themes of resilience and

growth, weaving these experiences into a personal story that gives her life

meaning.

B. Hiro struggles to maintain a consistent self-view as he adjusts his identity

with each new life challenge, leading to feelings of instability and poor

psychological health.

C. Mei adapts her identity by focusing on her long-term sense of competence

while reframing setbacks to align with her positive self-view.

D. Yuta creates a vivid life story by recalling specific memories and linking

them to his aspirations, emphasizing how his narrative has changed over

time.

A McAdams, B Whitbourne, C Whitbourne, D McAdams