Alternative autobiographical story as a component of the possible self

Abstract

It is considered that the integrity of Ego, the acceptance of one's life versus despair and regrets about the missed opportunities is an outcome of passing through psychosocial crisis of the last stage of development (by E.Erikson); also the life choice is considered as a fork in the road, after which a person leaves the unselected option behind in his past. However, the content of life stories shows that an unhappened story can evolve in the form of an alternative life story. The analysis of autobiographical interviews with 58 people (25 men, 33 women, average age 35,3 years (SD = 11,2, min – 21, max – 72)) showed that when answering a question about the events that changed their lives, the respondents told about missed opportunities (20,6%), less often about success (5,1%). The notion of an "alternative life story" is developed, which is defined as a part of an actual autobiographical discourse containing unrealized or rejected opportunities. The obstacle of the research was to define the role of alternative stories and the way in which possible selves are included in the life story of a person. The alternative life stories are suggested to consider as possible self. An empirical classification of the types of alternative stories is described and illustrated by examples from the interviews. An alternative life story is often associated with a turning point (crucial event) in life that disrupts the continuity and coherence of the life line and the self-concept. However, it enhances the thematic coherence of autobiographical history, since it carries the basic values and life principles of a person: history remains unhappened, but still relevant in the person's life space. Interpretation of the obtained results is carried out with reliance on the theory of the field of K.Levin, the concept of possible self and the temporal self-appraisal (TSA) theory (theory of self-appraisal based on comparison in time (E.J.Strahan, A.E.Wilson).