Skip to Main Content

Cultural-Historical Psychology
2019. Vol. 15, no. 4, 68–78
https://doi.org/10.17759/chp.2019150407
ISSN: 1816-5435 / 2224-8935 (online)

The Biographical Concept as a Psychological Means of Life Reflection

 
Audio is AI-generated
581

PDF (RUS)
Online translation in english
GS
Information
in Google Scholar
Metrics

Abstract

The article focuses on biographical concepts as linguistic signs expressing an individual’s generalized knowledge of the meaning of life in an autobiographical narrative. In the mainstream of cultural-historical psychology, the biographical concepts are considered as psychological tools for reflecting on the meaning of life. We hypothesized that the level of generalization of the biographical concepts correlates with the level of awareness and personality reflection in adulthood. The sample of our study consisted of 110 people aged 17—57 years. The study measured the following four factors: generalization of the biographical concept in the autobiographical narrative; biographical reflection; meaningfulness of life; type of reflection. We found that the level of generalization of the biographical concepts in adulthood undergoes a transition from the unstructured set of attributes of the concept’s meaning (the syncret), through the isolation of formal attributes associated with the concept (the complex), to the abstract and generalized meaning of the concept (the notion). Also, higher levels of generalization of the biographical concepts in midlife as compared to early adulthood are associated with the individuals’ increasing awareness of life and reflection skills.

General Information

Keywords: biographical concept, autobiographical narrative, reflection, meaning, meaning of life

Journal rubric: Empirical Research

OpenAlex citations: 3

OpenAlex trends: Identity, Memory, and Therapy, Psychology of Development and Education, Sociopolitical Dynamics in Russia

Information about the work in OpenAlex

Number of citations: 3

Topics

Identity, Memory, and Therapy

This cluster of papers explores the development of narrative identity, autobiographical memory, and psychological well-being in emerging adulthood. It delves into the formation of life stories, memory specificity, and the impact of cultural and social factors on identity construction during life transitions. The research emphasizes the role of narrative identity in shaping individuals' experiences and well-being as they navigate the complexities of emerging adulthood.

Number of works: 35293  |  Total number of citations: 582021

Topic detailsв OpenAlex

Psychology of Development and Education

This cluster of papers explores various aspects of psychology in education, focusing on topics such as the Zone of Proximal Development, inclusive education, cultural-historical theory, educational environment, psychological well-being, teacher training, learning motivation, adolescent development, social cognition, and digital learning. The papers delve into the intersection of psychology and education to understand the developmental processes and challenges in educational settings.

Number of works: 77902  |  Total number of citations: 232078

Topic detailsв OpenAlex

Sociopolitical Dynamics in Russia

This cluster of papers explores the intersection of youth, identity, and politics in contemporary Russia. It delves into topics such as civic participation, nationalism, social media, protest moods, and the impact of digital generation on political communication. The research also examines the influence of ethnicity and sociological factors on shaping youth identity and political attitudes.

Number of works: 78649  |  Total number of citations: 134825

Topic detailsв OpenAlex

Work details in OpenAlex

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/chp.2019150407

Published

For citation: Klementyeva, M.V. (2019). The Biographical Concept as a Psychological Means of Life Reflection. Cultural-Historical Psychology, 15(4), 68–78. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/chp.2019150407

© Klementyeva M.V., 2019

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

References

  1. Almaev N.A. Primenenie kontent-analiza v issledovaniyakh lichnosti: metodicheskie voprosy [The use of content-analysis in personality research: methodological issues]. Moscow: Publ. «Institut psikhologii RAN», 2012. 167 p.
  2. Vygotskii L.S. Psikhologiya razvitiya cheloveka [Psychology of development of the person]. Moscow: Smysl; Eksmo, 2004. 1136 p.
  3. Davydov V.V., Bozhovich L.I., Zaporozhets A.V., El’konin D.B. Istoriya odnoi konferentsii, rasskazannaya V.V. Davydovym Zhaku Karpeyu 13.06.94 [The story of one conference, narrated by V.V. Davydov Jacques Carpey 13.06.94]. Kul’turno-istoricheskaya psikhologiya [Cultural-Historical Psychology], 2005. no. 4, pp. 88—102. (In Russ., abstr. in Engl.).
  4. Zinchenko V.P. Soznanie i tvorcheskii akt [Consciousness and creative act]. Moscow: Yazyki slavyanskikh kul’tur, 2010. 592 p.
  5. Klement’eva M.V. Biograficheskaya refleksiya vo vzroslom vozraste: soderzhanie, funktsii, genez. dokt. psikhol. nauk. [Biographical reflection in adulthood: content, function, genesis. Dr. Sci. (Psychology) diss.]. Sankt-Peterburg, 2018. 530 p.
  6. Koroleva N.N. Psikhosemiotika sub”ektivnykh real’nostei lichnosti. dokt. psikhol. nauk. [Psychosemiotics of subjective realities of personality. Ph. D. (Psychology) Thesis]. Sankt-Peterburg, 2006. 36 p.
  7. Leont’ev D.A. Test smyslozhiznennykh orientatsii (SZhO). Moscow: Smysl, 2000. 18 p.
  8. Leont’ev D.A. Psikhologiya smysla [Psychology of meaning]. Moscow: Smysl, 2003. 487 p.
  9. Leont’ev D.A., Osin E.N. Refleksiya «khoroshaya» i «durnaya»: ot ob”yasnitel’noi modeli k differentsial’noi diagnostike [“Good” and “Bad” Reflection: From an Explanatory Model to Differential Assessment]. Zhurnal Vysshei shkoly ekonomiki [Psychology. Journal of the Higher School of Economics], 2014. Vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 110—135.
  10. Nurkova V.V. Zhizn’ — instruktsiya po primeneniyu: rezul’taty graficheskoi eksplikatsii Kul’turnogo Zhiznennogo Stsenariya [Life — Instructions for Use: The results of graphical exploration of a Cultural Life Script] [Elektronnyi resurs]. Mezhdunarodnyi zhurnal issledovanii kul’tury [International Journal of Cultural Research], 2018. Vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 55—73. doi:10.24411/2079-1100-2018-00007
  11. Rubtsov V.V., Margolis A.A., Telegin M.V. Psikhologicheskoe issledovanie geneza i razvitiya zhiteiskikh ponyatii v usloviyakh uchebnogo dialoga (pervyi etap) [Psychological study of the genesis and development of everyday concepts in the context of educational dialogue (first stage)]. Psikhologicheskaya nauka i obrazovanie [Psychological Science and Education], 2007, no. 2, pp. 61—72. (In Russ., abstr. in Engl.).
  12. Sapogova E.E. Ekzistentsial’naya psikhologiya vzroslosti [Existential psychology of adulthood]. Moscow: Smysl, 2013. 760 p.
  13. Stepanov Yu.S. Kontsepty. Tonkaya plenka tsivilizatsii [Concepts. Thin film of civilization]. Moscow: Yazyki slavyanskikh kul’tur, 2007. 248 p.
  14. Tolstykh N.N. Sovremennoe vzroslenie [Modern maturation]. Konsul’tativnaya psikhologiya i psikhoterapiya [Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy], 2015. Vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 7—24. doi:10.17759/cpp.2015230402 (In Russ., а in Engl.).
  15. Khoziev V.B., Vasenichev S.A. Tema «zhizni i smerti» v slovesnom tvorche-stve podrostkov 14—16 let [The Topic of Life and Death in Verbal Creativity of Adolescents aged 14—16 Years]. Kul’turno-istoricheskaya psikhologiya [Cultural- Historical Psychology], 2015. Vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 30—43. doi:10.17759/chp.2015110403 (In Russ., а in Engl.).
  16. Shalak V. I. Kontent-analiz. Prilozheniya v oblasti: politologii, psikhologii, sotsiologii, kul’turologii, ekonomiki, reklamy [Content-analysis. Applications in the field of: political science, psychology, sociology, cultural studies, economics, advertising]. Moscow: Omega-L, 2004. 270 p.
  17. Ardelt Disentangling the Relations Between Wisdom and Different Types of Well-being in Old Age: Findings from a Short-term Longitudinal Study. Journal of Happiness Studies, 2016. Vol. 17, no. 5, pp. 1963—1984.
  18. Arnett J. Emerging Adulthood: A Theory of Development from the Late Teens Through the Twenties. American Psychologist, 2000. Vol. 55, no. 5, pp. 469—480. doi:10.1037//0003-066X.55.5.469
  19. Cordonnier A., Barnier J., John A., John S. Phenomenology in Autobiographical Thinking: Underlying Features of Prospection and Retrospection. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 2018. Vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 295—311. doi:10.1037/cns0000156
  20. Habermas T. How to Tell a Life: The Development of the Cultural Concept of Biography across the Lifespan. Journal of Cognition and Development, 2007. no. 8, pp. 1—31. doi:10.1080/15248370709336991
  21. Kenyon G.M., Randall W.L. Restorying Our Lives: Personal Growth through Autobiographical Reflection. Westport, CT: Praeger, 1997. 208 p.
  22. Köber C., Kuhn M.M., Peters I., Habermas T. Mentalizing oneself: detecting reflective functioning in life narratives. Attachment & Human Development, 2019. Vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 313—331. doi:10.1080/14616734.2018.1473886
  23. Narrative and Identity: Studies in Autobiography, Self, and Culture. Brockmeier, D.Carbaugh (еds.). Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 2001. 307 p.
  24. Narrative Thought and Narrative Language. B.K. Britton, A.D. Pellegrini (е). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1990. 286 p.
  25. Reker G.T. Theoretical Perspective Dimensions and Measurement of Existential Meaning. In Reker G.T. (eds.), далее курсивом название Exploring Existential Meaning: Optimizing Human Development across the Life Span. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2000, pp. 39—55.
  26. Remembering our Past: Studies in Autobiographical Memory. D. Rubin (е), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996. 460 p. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511527913.003
  27. Suddendorf T., Corballis M.C. Mental Time Travel and the Evolution of the Human Mind. Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs, 1997. Vol. 123, no. 2, pp. 133—67.
  28. Understanding Autobiographical Memory: Theories and Approaches. D. Berntsen, D.C. Rubin (е). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. 364 p. doi:10.1017/ CBO9781139021937

Information About the Authors

Marina V. Klementyeva, Doctor of Psychology, associate professor, Professor of the Department of Psychology and Human Capital Development, Finance University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8712-9282, e-mail: marinaklementyva@yandex.ru

Metrics

 Web Views

Whole time: 1450
Previous month: 18
Current month: 13

 PDF Downloads

Whole time: 581
Previous month: 11
Current month: 6

 Total

Whole time: 2031
Previous month: 29
Current month: 19