عنوان

The quest for self-discovery :

Number

TLets808819

Title Proper

The quest for self-discovery :

General Material Designation

[Thesis]

First Statement of Responsibility

Birch, Maxine

Title Proper by Another Author

the reconstruction of self identity stories in alternative therapy groups

Subsequent Statement of Responsibility

Davies, Phil; Ribbens, Jane; Edwards, Tim

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

Oxford Brookes University

Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.

1997

Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree

Thesis (Ph.D.)

Text preceding or following the note

1997

Text of Note

This thesis explores the reconstruction of self identity stories in a defined area of alternative therapy. An initial document analysis of advertisements in directories, described as alternative to promote views and practices on complementary health and environmental issues, suggested that the category of psychotherapy and counselling was increasing more than other areas. I found that group workshops and courses were situated within this category of counselling and psychotherapy. . The alternative therapy groups and facilitators I selected shared a promise to discover an inner self, described as the process of self discovery, and that this experience will about bring positive change. The concept of self-discovery is clarified from the range of alternative therapies used in the groups. The theoretical base of these therapies exhibit a central mix of alternative western psychotherapies and eastern philosophical beliefs, plus various selections of knowledge from all round the world. The methodological approach used is termed an autolbiographical ethnography. This term represents the two essential constituents of research, my story of research and the stories of others. Firstly the method of collecting the stories of others were: participant observation in three therapy groups engaged over a period of one year, plus participating in one separate weekend workshop for comparison, the interviews of the six facilitators and ten participants involved with these groups, the interviews of another four facilitators who ran similar groups for comparison, and a document analysis of advertisements and magazines over a period of five years collected from many parts of England and Scotland. Secondly, the term autolbiography recognises my role of researcher in the construction of this defined area of research. The slashed connection between my story and the story of others enables myself, the researcher, to place reflections upon the research process during the stages of field work, analysis and writing up. The resulting data revealed a distinct way of telling about this process of self-discovery in the interview setting and my field notes illustrated the strategies engaged to promote this type of telling. This led to the analysis of the data through an understanding of story telling, its connection with self-identity and social life. From this I draw two interpretations. At first the analysis focuses upon the content of the stories told in the interview. Two key themes are identified, which are reflected against the social theoretical debates that propose differing explanations of the constitution of identity in modem society. Secondly, by exploring the story telling strategies engaged within the groups and the construction of such stories, I conclude that the self-discovery story reveals a distinct script. This demonstrates a clear paradox between the claim of authorial authority found in the stories told and the inscription of a definite way of presenting such self identity claims. This paradox represents how the selfdiscovery story transcends a social relational understanding of self identity and locates its understanding within an inner model of reflexivity that assumes an inner residence of emotions. This transcendence is achieved through a distinct narrative organisation illustrating a success story and depending upon the use of a metaphorical self. The term autolbiography is reflected in the analytical use of story telling as it shows how this research story is produced. The two different interpretations of data drawn from the distinction between the content of the stories and how such stories are produced mirrors the research process, where the story I produce for this thesis achieves a similar outcome. I can recognise how the final production of this research story continues to construct my authority as a sociologist while at the same time prescribing which sociological identity I adopt.

Counselling; Psychotherapy

Oxford Brookes University

Davies, Phil; Ribbens, Jane; Edwards, Tim

Oxford Brookes University

Call Number

http://doi.org/10.24384/ys6e-zf04

Electronic name

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y