IDENTITY FORMATION AND RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF LOSS: AN ANALYSIS OF JOAN DIDION’S THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING

Yıl 2024, Cilt: 11 Sayı: 3, 346 – 363, 01.08.2024

Fulya Kincal

Öz

This research explores the complexities of dealing with loss, identity formation and psychological resilience as depicted in Joan Didion’s memoir, The Year of Magical Thinking through the lenses of Narrative Identity Theory and the concept of Post—Traumatic Growth. Didion’s introspective storytelling offers a dive into how challenging events like losing a loved one can change how we see ourselves and the world. Narrative Identity Theory posits that people shape their sense of self by weaving their life experiences into an evolving narrative, which becomes particularly significant in times of grief and bereavement. Additionally, Post— Traumatic Growth theory is used to investigate the transformative potential of trauma, emphasizing the capacity to emerge from adversity with increased personal strength, deeper relationships, and a renewed sense of meaning. In examining Didion’s memoir through the lens of these theories, this study highlights how the act of storytelling aids in processing grief and reconstructing a coherent self-narrative. Through integrating these frameworks, the analysis seeks to offer a nuanced insight into the transformative journey from trauma-induced loss to recovery, emphasizing the intricate relationship between reconstructing narratives and reshaping identities after experiencing profound grief.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Identity Formation, Healing, Loss, Narrative Identity Theory, Post-Traumatic Growth, Resilience

Kaynakça

• Aristotle. (1970). Poetics (S. H. Butcher, Trans.). Hill and Wang. (Original work published 4th century BCE).
• Bion, W. R. (1962). Learning from Experience. In Seven Servants (pp. 1-95). New York: Aronson, 1977.
• Bonanno, G. A. (2004). Loss, trauma, and human resilience: Have we underestimated the human capacity to thrive after extremely aversive events? American Psychologist, 59(1), 20-28
• Damasio, A. (1999). The feeling of what happens: Body and emotion in the making of consciousness. New York: Harcourt Brace.
• Didion, J. (2005). The Year of Magical Thinking. Vintage Books.
• Fivush, R., & Haden, C. A. (Eds.). (2003). Connecting culture and memory: The development of an autobiographical self. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
• Freud, S. (1900). The Interpretation of Dreams. S. E., 4/5. ———. (1909). Notes upon a case of obsessional neurosis. S. E., 10. ———. (1913). Totem and Taboo. S. E., 13. ———. (1933). New Introductory Lectures on Psycho-Analysis. S. E., 22.
• Habermas, T., & Bluck, S. (2000). Getting a life: The emergence of the life story in adolescence. Psychological Bulletin, 126(2), 248-269.
• Hegel, G.W.F. (1977). Phemenology of Spirit (A.V. Miller, Trans.) Oxford University Press. (Original work published 1807).
• Howe, M. L., & Courage, M. L. (1997). The emergence and early development of autobiographical memory. Psychological Review, 104(4), 499-523.
• Klein, M. (1935). A contribution to the psychogenesis of manic-depressive states. In Contributions to Psycho-Analysis, 1921–1945 (pp. 282-310). London: Hogarth, 1968. ———. (1948). On the theory of anxiety and guilt. In Envy and Gratitude and Other Works, 1946–1963 (pp. 25-32). New York: Delacorte, 1975. ———. (1952). The mutual influences in the development of ego and id. In Envy and Gratitude and Other Works, 1946–1963 (pp. 57-60). New York: Delacorte, 1975.
• Linde, C. (1993). Life stories: The creation of coherence. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
• Marcia, J. (1980). Identity in adolescence. In J. Adelson (Ed.), Handbook of adolescent psychology (pp. 159-187). New York: Wiley.
• McAdams, D. P. (1985). Power, intimacy, and the life story: Personological inquiries into identity. New York: Guilford Press. ———. (2006). The redemptive self: Stories Americans live by. New York: Oxford University Press.
• Neimeyer, R. A. (2001). Meaning reconstruction and the experience of loss. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
• Ogden, T. H. (2010). On three forms of thinking: Magical thinking, dream thinking and transformative thinking. The Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 79(2), 317-347.
• Parfit, D. (2004). Narrative identity, practical identity, ethical subjectivity. Continental Philosophy Review, 37(4), 341-66.
• Ross, M. (1989). Relation of implicit theories to the construction of personal histories. Review, 96, 341-357.
• Shakespeare, W. (1997). King Lear (R. A. Foakes, Ed.). Arden Shakespeare. ((Original work published 1608)
• Sophocles. (1942). Oedipus Rex (D. Grene, Trans.). University of Chicago Press. (Original work published ca. 429 B.C.E.)
• Tedeschi, R. G. (1999). Violence transformed: Posttraumatic growth in survivors and their societies. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 4, 319-341.
• Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (1995). Trauma and transformation: Growing in the aftermath of suffering. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
• Tomasello, M. (2000). Culture and cognitive development. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 9, 37-40.

IDENTITY FORMATION AND RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF LOSS: AN ANALYSIS OF JOAN DIDION’S THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING

Yıl 2024, Cilt: 11 Sayı: 3, 346 – 363, 01.08.2024

Fulya Kincal

Öz

Bu araştırma, Joan Didion’un anı kitabı Büyülü Düşünce Yılı’nı inceleyerek, kayıpla başa çıkma, kimlik oluşumu ve psikolojik dirençlilik kavramlarını Anlatı Kimliği Teorisi ve Travma Sonrası Büyüme kavramları aracılığıyla incelemektedir. Didion’un içsel anlatımı, bir sevdiğini kaybetme gibi zo yaşam deneyimlerinin kendimizi ve dünyayı nasıl gördüğümüzü nasıl değiştirebileceğine dair derinlemesine bir bakış sunar. Anlatı Kimliği Teorisi, insanların kendilik duygularını, yaşam deneyimlerini sürekli devingen bir anlatı şeklinde örerek şekillendirdiklerini öne sürer; bu durum özellikle yas ve keder zamanlarında önemli hale gelir. Ayrıca, Travma Sonrası Büyüme teorisi, travmanın dönüştürücü potansiyelini araştırmak için kullanılır ve olumsuzluklardan kişisel güçlenme, daha derin ilişkiler ve yenilenmiş bir anlam duygusu ile çıkma kapasitesini vurgular. Bu çalışma, Didion’un anı kitabını bu teoriler ışığında incelerken, hikaye anlatma eyleminin kederi iyileştiemede ve tutarlı bir kendilik algısı inşa etmede nasıl yardımcı olduğunu vurgulamaktadır. Bu çerçeveleri birleştirerek, bu analiz travma kaynaklı kayıptan iyileşmeye doğru olan dönüşüm yolculuğuna dair bir içgörü sunmayı amaçlamaktadır. Derin bir keder yaşadıktan sonra, yaşam deneyimlerinin anlatımı ile kendini yeniden inşa etme ve kimliği şekillendirme arasındaki karmaşık ilişkiye dikkat çekmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Kimlik Oluşumu, İyileşme, Kayıp, Anlatı Kimliği Teorisi, Travma Sonrası Değişme, Direnç

Teşekkür

Sayın Yetkili, Çalışmamı gözden geçirmek için harcadığınız zaman ve çaba için minnettarım. Makalemde sunulan içgörü ve perspektiflerin okuyucularınızla yankı bulacağına ve alandaki devam eden tartışmalara anlamlı bir katkı sağlayacağına inanıyorum. Herhangi bir geri bildiriminizi sabırsızlıkla bekliyor ve çalışmamın saygın yayınınızda yer alma olasılığı konusunda heyecan duyuyorum. En içten dileklerimle, Fulya KİNCAL

Kaynakça

• Aristotle. (1970). Poetics (S. H. Butcher, Trans.). Hill and Wang. (Original work published 4th century BCE).
• Bion, W. R. (1962). Learning from Experience. In Seven Servants (pp. 1-95). New York: Aronson, 1977.
• Bonanno, G. A. (2004). Loss, trauma, and human resilience: Have we underestimated the human capacity to thrive after extremely aversive events? American Psychologist, 59(1), 20-28
• Damasio, A. (1999). The feeling of what happens: Body and emotion in the making of consciousness. New York: Harcourt Brace.
• Didion, J. (2005). The Year of Magical Thinking. Vintage Books.
• Fivush, R., & Haden, C. A. (Eds.). (2003). Connecting culture and memory: The development of an autobiographical self. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
• Freud, S. (1900). The Interpretation of Dreams. S. E., 4/5. ———. (1909). Notes upon a case of obsessional neurosis. S. E., 10. ———. (1913). Totem and Taboo. S. E., 13. ———. (1933). New Introductory Lectures on Psycho-Analysis. S. E., 22.
• Habermas, T., & Bluck, S. (2000). Getting a life: The emergence of the life story in adolescence. Psychological Bulletin, 126(2), 248-269.
• Hegel, G.W.F. (1977). Phemenology of Spirit (A.V. Miller, Trans.) Oxford University Press. (Original work published 1807).
• Howe, M. L., & Courage, M. L. (1997). The emergence and early development of autobiographical memory. Psychological Review, 104(4), 499-523.
• Klein, M. (1935). A contribution to the psychogenesis of manic-depressive states. In Contributions to Psycho-Analysis, 1921–1945 (pp. 282-310). London: Hogarth, 1968. ———. (1948). On the theory of anxiety and guilt. In Envy and Gratitude and Other Works, 1946–1963 (pp. 25-32). New York: Delacorte, 1975. ———. (1952). The mutual influences in the development of ego and id. In Envy and Gratitude and Other Works, 1946–1963 (pp. 57-60). New York: Delacorte, 1975.
• Linde, C. (1993). Life stories: The creation of coherence. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
• Marcia, J. (1980). Identity in adolescence. In J. Adelson (Ed.), Handbook of adolescent psychology (pp. 159-187). New York: Wiley.
• McAdams, D. P. (1985). Power, intimacy, and the life story: Personological inquiries into identity. New York: Guilford Press. ———. (2006). The redemptive self: Stories Americans live by. New York: Oxford University Press.
• Neimeyer, R. A. (2001). Meaning reconstruction and the experience of loss. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
• Ogden, T. H. (2010). On three forms of thinking: Magical thinking, dream thinking and transformative thinking. The Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 79(2), 317-347.
• Parfit, D. (2004). Narrative identity, practical identity, ethical subjectivity. Continental Philosophy Review, 37(4), 341-66.
• Ross, M. (1989). Relation of implicit theories to the construction of personal histories. Review, 96, 341-357.
• Shakespeare, W. (1997). King Lear (R. A. Foakes, Ed.). Arden Shakespeare. ((Original work published 1608)
• Sophocles. (1942). Oedipus Rex (D. Grene, Trans.). University of Chicago Press. (Original work published ca. 429 B.C.E.)
• Tedeschi, R. G. (1999). Violence transformed: Posttraumatic growth in survivors and their societies. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 4, 319-341.
• Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (1995). Trauma and transformation: Growing in the aftermath of suffering. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
• Tomasello, M. (2000). Culture and cognitive development. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 9, 37-40.

Toplam 23 adet kaynakça vardır.

Ayrıntılar

Kaynak Göster

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