The Dialogical Self: Research and Applications

Abstract

The paper presents dialogical self theory and its current theoretical and empirical status. We start with some inspirations from philosophy and literature and then describe the main thesis of the theory -self-multiplicity conceptualized in terms of I-positions and the dynamic relations between them. In the next section we present examples of empirical explorations of inner dialogical activity. Although dialogical self theory is generally perceived as a qualitative approach, there is a growing number of quantitative studies conducted both in correlational and experimental designs. Moreover, numerous interesting and promising topics are still open for further research -e.g. temporal dialogues, dialogical interpretations of personal identity, values and valuation, relations between self and culture. After reviewing these empirical results we try to explore the relations between the dialogical and the cognitive approach to self-multiplicity. We propose that those two approaches can be seen as complementary rather than competing. The last section discusses some practical implications of dialogical self theory for psychotherapy and counseling.

Inner Dialogical Communication and Pathological Personality Traits

“…It appears that secure attachment correlates positively with identity dialogues and negatively with ruminative dialogues, and anxious attachment correlates with the simulation of social relationships and ruminative dialogues. Avoidant attachment style has a negative relationship with supporting dialogues and identity dialogues, and a positive relationship with ruminative dialogues (Bątory et al, 2010; Oleś et al, 2010; Oleś and Puchalska-Wasyl, 2012). Studies on attachment styles and core beliefs, which are related to personality traits, considered that individuals with anxious style find others as difficult to understand with thoughts of having little control over outcomes in their lives, while people with secure attachment style are more assertive and interpersonally oriented (Platts et al, 2002).…”

A dialogue with a virtual imaginary interlocutor as a form of a psychological support for well-being

“…The Self has the ability to give voice to each position. These relationships between positions are inner dialogues [1].…”

“…Participants' study presents a problematic history and asked to generate solutions, but they just do it, or be preceded by a real or imaginary dialogue (on the subject) of any imaginary character. Both the dialogue actually carried out, as well as imaginary lead to a greater variety of possible solutions, if confronted with a different point of viewimagined or real -was enough to widen the horizons of thought [1].…”

Urban First Nations Men: Narratives of Identity Striving to Live a Balanced Life

“…An individual's identity is not static but constantly evolving (King et al, 2009;Taylor & Usborne, 2010). Personal identity is formed through our notion of how others view us and what they expect of us (Batory, Bak, Oleś, & Puchalska-Wasyl, 2010). It is the complex negotiation between the stories we tell about ourselves and the perceived stories told by others about who we are (Batory et al, 2010).…”

“…Personal identity is formed through our notion of how others view us and what they expect of us (Batory, Bak, Oleś, & Puchalska-Wasyl, 2010). It is the complex negotiation between the stories we tell about ourselves and the perceived stories told by others about who we are (Batory et al, 2010). Furthermore, personal identity is greatly influenced by the cultural identity (which is a type of collective identity that can be related to ethnicity but not always) to which an individual self identifies (Frideres, 2008).…”