Self identity and globalization in times of uncertainty

Self, identity and globalization in times of uncertainty: A dialogical analysis Hubert J. M. Hermans Radboud University of Nijmegen The Netherlands

Dialogical Self inspired by James’ American pragmatism Baktin’s Russian dialogical school

Four notions of the self Premodern 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 - 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.

Peter Callero in Annual Review of Sociology (2003) listed some central self-concepts in psychology: - self-enhancement - self-consistency - self-monitoring - self-efficacy - self-regulation - self-presentation - self-verification - self-knowledge - self-control - self-handicapping - self-deception A modern project? Callero, P. L. (2003). The sociology of the self. Annual Review of Sociology, 29, 115– 133.

Stable and changing: “. . . There is a tendency [in mainstream psychology] to focus on stability, unity, and conformity and de-emphasize the sociological principles of social construction. The self that is socially constructed may congeal around a relatively stable set of cultural meanings, but these meanings can never be permanent or unchanging. ” (p. 127) Singular and multidimensional: “Similarly, the self that is socially constructed may appear centered, unified, and singular, but this symbolic structure will be as multidimensional and diverse as the social relationships that surround it. ” (p. 127)

Relations of power: “Finally, the self that is socially constructed is never a bounded quality of the individual or simple expression of psychological characteristics; it is a fundamentally social phenomenon, where concepts, images, and understandings are deeply determined by relations of power. When these principles are ignored or rejected, the self is often conceptualized as a vessel for storing all the particulars of a person” (p. 127).

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. Dialogical relationships involve both interchange and relative dominance. Hermans, H. J. M. , & Dimaggio, G. (2004). The dialogical self in psychotherapy. New York: Brunner & Routledge.

Hermans Hubert city independent business practical optimistic freedom independence optimistic love of nature pessimistic Spronck rural/ farmers misfortune sensitive pessimistic

Different modalities of the word 'I‘ in the Sranon Tongo, the language of Afro-Surinam people: Mi Mi kra A misi (f'mi) A masra (f'mi) Mi misi nanga mi masra Mi dyodyo Mi skin Mi geest I My soul, I My feminine part My masculine part My feminine and masculine part My divine parents My body, I My spirit, I Wekker, G. (1994). Eindelijk kom ik tot mezelf [Finally, I become myself]. In J. Hoogsteder (Red. ), Etnocentrisme & Communicatie in de Hulpverlening (pp. 45 -60) Utrecht: Landelijke Federatie van Welzijnsorganisaties voor Surinamers.

OUTSIDE EXTERNAL INTERNAL perfectionist selfaccepting avoidant father grandfather accepting therapist Hermans, H. J. M. (2003). The construction and reconstruction of a dialogical self. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 16 (2), 89 -130

Temporal extension of the self: Inclusion of premodern, postmodern elements Spatial extension of the self: Transition between Me and Mine (James, 1890): "not only his body and his psychic powers, but his clothes and his house, his wife and children, his ancestors and friends, his reputation and works, his lands and horses, and yacht and bankaccount" (James, 1890, p. 291). However. . The spatial extension is not theoretically exhausted: it is intensely connected with the outside domain of the self. . . Beyond James’ Mine.

Global systems theorists (e. g. , Appadurai, 1990) Contact zones permit two-way intensification of communication that runs across the boundaries of many groups and cultures simultaneously. On these contact zones global landscapes emerge: technoscapes, mediascapes, ethnoscapes, finanscapes, and ideoscapes. Whereas in traditional homogeneous societies, ideology, media communication, and technology are to some degree integrated, they are widely separated and disjunctive in contemporary society. Appadurai, A. (1990). Disjuncture and difference in the global cultural economy. In M. Featherstone (Ed). Global culture: Nationalism, globalization, and modernity (pp. 295 -310). London: Sage.

ECOSCAPE IDEOSCAPE new age pastor imam-on-line rabbi spiritual religious meaning sellers, advertisers sponsors independent prestige owner of a yacht my facelift I as bionic my memory chip surgeons technicians gene therapists chatter on-line person belonging tv-personalities sms friends fluid others victim of inflation bank representatives financial advisors IMF TECHNOSCAPE FINANSCAPE MEDIASCAPE

Main aspects of the experience of uncertainty Complexity: many parts with a variety of relations Ambiguity: suspension of clarity Deficit knowledge: absence of a superordinate knowledge structure Unpredictability: lack of control of future developments 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

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 Three-level approach as a correction on the selfcontained identity: individual, local, global 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

Glocalization: implications - Higher density and heterogeneity of positions (e. g. , cacophony of voices in everyday life; avatars in MUD - Fragmentation of positions (e. g. , Islam boy exposed to Western sex industry) - Position leaps: discontinuous change (e. g. , cosmetic surgery) - New coalitions of positions (e. g. , independent and child) - Change of the nature of dialogues between positions (e. g. , more brief, transient, with anonymous others: intensified ‘’traffic’’ of positions) - Reduction of the repertoire to one or a few powerful positions as a reaction to complexity and uncertainty 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

Essentials Dialogical Self Theory - acknowledgment of both centrifugal (multivoicedness) and centripetal forces (the creation of coherence and unity through dialogue) in a multivoiced, yet substantial self. - avoiding both the risk of the ontological unity of the selfcontained individualism and the risk of fragmentation (with its neglect of the self as a source of agency). - ethical aspect: stimulation of dialogue between groups and cultures requires the stimulation of dialogue within the individual self.

International Conference on the Dialogical Self 26 -29 August 2008 Cambridge, UK www. dialogicalscience. com