Dialogical Self: State of the Art

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Dialogical Self State of the Art
The Dialogical Self State of
the Art Hubert J.M. Hermans
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Overview

• Overview
• - Extension of the self in space The process of
  globalization and localization
• - Extension of the self in time Four historical
  notions
• - The notion of positioning as dynamic and
  flexible
• - Two areas relevant to practice
• Motivation and conflict resolution
• - Summary

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Global-local dialectics
Global-Local Dialectics
Localization as a counterforce to
globalization (re-appraisal of local traditions
defensive localization)
Globalization as access to different local
values, practices and traditions (higher
density and heterogeneity of the position
repertoire, multiple identities coping with
uncertainty)
Three-level approach as a correction of the
self-contained identity individual, local,
global (Falmagne, 2004 Abbey Falmange
2008) Hermans, H.J.M., Dimaggio, G. (2007).
Self, identity, and globalization in times of
uncertainty A dialogical analysis. Review of
General Psychology, 11, 31-61
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Four notions of self Richardson
Four Notions of the Self

• Traditional notion
• - self defined by a meaningful, hierarchical
  cosmic order connectedness
• distinction between mere living on earth and a
  higher better kind of life
• moral responsibility

• Modern notion
• self-contained individualism
• no complicity in language, culture, and
  community
• self is its own ground agency

• Post-modern notion
• - decentering of the self
• self as linguistic construction
• multiplicity, fragmentation and loss of agency
• power relations

• Dialogical notion
• - Acknowledging the existence of power relations
  (post-modern), agency (modern) and moral
  responsibility (premodern)
• . Richardson, F.C. et al. (1998) Toward a
  dialogical self. American Behavioral Scientist,
  41 (4), 496-515.
• . Hermans, H.J.M. Hermans-Konopka, A. (2009).
  The dialogical self Positioning and
  counter-positioning in a globalizing world.
  Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press.

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Definition Dialogical Self
The Dialogical Self
A dynamic multiplicity of I-positions in the
landscape of the mind.
As voiced positions they are involved in
dialogical relationships both within and between
people Self as society of mind.
Dialogical relationships involve both interchange
and relative dominance and are placed in a contex
of power relationships. Hermans, H.J.M.,
Kempen, H.J.G., Van Loon, J.P. (1992). The
dialogical self Beyond individualism and
rationalism. American Psychologist, 47, 23-33.
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Positioning as a flexible concept

• Positioning as a Dynamic and Flexible Concept
• Positioning, Repositioning, Positioned
• - Meta-position
• Counter-position
• Opposition (anti-position)
• Composition
• Depositioning
• Hermans, H.J.M., Hermans-Konopka, A. (2009).
  The dialogical self Positioning and
  counter-positioning in a globalizing world.
  Cambridge Cambridge University Press.

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Motivation Abdolah
Motivation from a Dialogical Point of View
- Individual differences paradigm vs. extended
self

• Internal and external positions
• the case of Kader Abdolah

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Motivation One or all
Motivation One or All
- Motivating is creating space

• Basic self-conflict one or all?

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James quotation
Jamess Suppression of the Rest
- Im often confronted by the necessity of
standing by one of my empirical selves and
relinquishing the rest. Not that I would not, if
I could, be both handsome and fat and
well-dressed, and a great athlete, and make a
million a year, be a wit, a bon-vivant, and a
lady-killer, as well as a philosopher a
philanthropist, statesman, warrior, and African
explorer, as well as a tone-poet and saint. But
the thing is simply impossible. The millionaires
work would run counter to the saints the
bon-vivant and the philanthropist would trip each
other up the philosopher and the lady-killer
could not well keep house in the same tenement of
clay. Such different characters may conceivably
at the outset of life be alike possible to a man.
But to make any of them actual, the rest must
more or less be suppressed (James, 1890, pp.
309-310).
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Schachters comments on Marcia
Schachters Comments on Marcias Identity Theory

• Commitment and choice among alternatives and the
  development of a stable identity suppression of
  the rest.

• Postmodern challenge the inclusion of all
  significant identifications.

• Conflicting positions as parts of a productive
  coalition create a space between all or one.
• Schachter, E. (2002). Identity constraints The
  perceived structural requirement of a good
  identity. Human Development, 45, 416-433.

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Examples of resolution of Self-Conflict
Examples of Resolution of Self-Conflict

• The case of a Lesbian woman in Catholic Brazil
  (Branco et al, 2008).

• Win-lose relationship vs. win-win relationships
  (Nir Kluger, 2006).

• Basic self-conflict leaves room for the
  construction of third positions and coalitions of
  positions as motivating constructions.
• . Branco, A., et al. (2008, in press).
  Self-Development and the emergence of new I-
  positions Emotions and self-dynamics.
  Psychological Studies.
• . Nir, D., Kluger, A. (2006). Workshop at the
  Fourth International Conference on the Dialogical
  Self. Braga, Portugal.

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Social Conflict resolution
Social Conflict Resolution
- Tough problems (Kahane, 2004) cause-effect
apart, generatively complex, and socially complex

• - Exclusive truth claims challenge to dialogue

• Cultural analysis (Avruch Black, 1993)
  shifting between cultural positions

- Yet, dialogue and conflict are not mutually
exclusive
- PRIME visiting each others places and writing
a common textbook (third position)
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Summary 1
Summarizing
1. As extended in space, the dialogical self can
be studied on the interface of globalization and
localization. As far as the self is open to these
influences, they result in an increase of the
density and heterogeneity of positions in the
self. At the same time the self has to cope with
the experience of uncertainty.
2. As extended in time, the dialogical self is at
the interface of different historical models of
the self (traditional, modern, and post-modern).
Studying the self on this interface has the
potential of integrating issues of moral
responsibility, agency, multiplicity and social
power.
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Summary 2
Summarizing
3. The dynamic and flexible nature of the concept
of positioning has the potential to stimulate
theory and research into a variety of directions.
One of them is the study of the process of
positioning and counter-positioning.
4. The process of positioning and
counter-positioning opens a field in which there
is space for the construction of a third position
(between all versus one)
5. The construction of a third position offers a
perspective on motivation and conflict resolution
which shows that dialogue and conflict are not
mutually exclusive. Rather, conflict is a
challenge and a chance for extending and
deepening dialogical relationships between
conflicting positions.