Narrative: Language, Culture, and Identity (Chapter 6)

Objectives for this chapter

Recognize stories as a core element in relationships. Identify ways in which narratives are part of positive and

negative relational experiences. Differentiate among ways of describing language in

relationships. Use language-oriented concepts to understand couple and

family issues. Describe and explain several language-based interventions. Recognize language-based components in popular family

counseling approaches.

Introduction

Narrative theories and techniques focus on human use of language—internal and external

Many academic disciplines have contributed ideas to this discussion

The Narrative theme crosses over into the other 4 themes in many ways

A Case Illustration: Bruce and Jessica Watson

This case shows a couple in crisis, trapped by a negative relationship story

The presenting story

Bruce was ashamed and confused by his own behavior His cutting was described as an obsession, impossible to stop

once he started thinking about it Jessica was confused—she thought of Bruce as smarter and

more capable than she was Jessica was trying to be supportive, but she too felt “wounded”

and powerless.

An alternative story

Michelle invoked magic, casting Bruce in the role of a child hero who is sacrificing himself to save the world.

This new story:– acknowledged the clients’ individual and shared realities,

including themes of cutting, personal inadequacy, over-responsibility, mutual dependency, and dread.

– described the problem as something outside Bruce.– defined the problem in terms that called for shared energy

and action.

Narrative changes

Bruce and Jessica began to identify the “wounded feeling” , known as ‘WF’, as something outside them, something powerful that threatened their well-being

They began to see that WF had allies that worked against their relationship

With a common enemy, they pulled together to identify goals, act stronger, and celebrate strengths

Theory and Research

The core concepts of Narrative have to do with meaning, understanding, and collaboration

Internal and interpersonal language

Cognition can be seen as behavior Cognition can also be seen as simply representing reality--I’m

perceiving a threat, and therefore I am truly being threatened Constructivism emphasizes the different ways in which people

frame their experiences:– Frames Part I: Distinctions and associations– Frames Part II: Attributions and accounts– Frames Part III: Locus of control– Frames Part IV: Concepts of self and other

Language systems and social construction

Maturana & Varela (biologists) went beyond the individual “constructing” his/her world. For them, language groups were different “species” with different realities

This is very similar to Berger & Luckmann’s view:– “Things” only come into existence when they are labeled

Paradigms and discourses are shared descriptions of reality Some kinds of identities are shared:

– Gender identity– Sexual identity– Ethnicity, race, and class

Narrative

Narrative co-telling is a collaborative process(speaker plus listener)(see next slide)

– Relational identity--we shape each other– Negative identities and dominant discourses--we can be trapped in

descriptions that are disabling Narratives can be analyzed from many perspectives

(deconstruction)– Stability, Progressive, Regressive narratives (see AA slide)– Narrative smoothing--does it fit together?

Dialogue and dialectics– Tensions can be interpersonal– Tensions may be built into the discourse

Narrative co-construction

Shared experiences provide a basis for co-narration of identities

Identities are defined by narrative elements No two narratives of the same experience are identical As co-narrators tell or retell a story, they negotiate the

perspective and language that will dominate the account Audiences validate narrative elements or offer additional ones Previously co-narrated stories tend to stabilize identities New audiences offer the potential to destabilize identities New experiences provide new narrative opportunities and

therefore offer opportunities for identity change

Alcoholics Anonymous—A narrative approach?

In AA, people learn to:– Tell their own stories and witness others’ stories– Cast Alcohol as a player in the story, a hostile force that

threatens their lives (externalizing)– Focus on the times when they have succeeded, not on the

times when they have failed (a progressive narrative)

The Process of Counseling with Couples and Families

Narrative traditions require listening to, and intervening with, both literal and relational meanings

Engaging I: entering a language world

Suspending judgment Hearing the clients’ language Entering their experiential world

Engaging II: entering a unique intersection of discourses

(People need help recognizing the extent and nature of their differences)

Some specialized tools for helping them to recognize differences include:

– Group preparation for couple sessions (culture circles)– Internalized other questioning– Reflecting teams and witnessing groups– Disengaging from the verbal realm (see Satir slide)

Disengaging from the verbal (Satir’s depiction of styles)

Beginning a dynamic assessment process

(A separate assessment phase may not exist) Context (discursive environments) Identities, roles, and scripts Internal and external attributions Story styles and types Metaphor Keywords and themes Unique outcomes

Keywords and themes

Binaries (generally recognized, e.g. gender & sexual orientation)

Predetermined themes (the professional’s perspective, e.g. power)

Ad-hoc

Intervening: changing representations

Rethinking--similar to individual-level cognitive behavioral work, requires teaching, heightened awareness and intentionality

– Socratic questioning– Guided discovery

Reframing Word substitution Metaphor and ritual

Intervening: collaborative retelling

Conversational style, e.g. Harlene Anderson’s “not knowing” Deconstructing dominant discourses--more direct Restorying

– Solution-Focused Therapy– Externalizing problems

Re-membering Stories that reassure Collaborative ritual

Assessing effectiveness

Language: key words, narrative themes, story types Ability to engage with others across discursive differences Clients’ own perceptions of change

Closure

Clients decide when they are ready to end the process Returning for updates and processing life changes is common

Cautions, concerns, and new directions

Indirect methods always risk contributing to unanticipated changes

Change cannot be promised This rapidly changing arena requires constant attention as

ideas evolve