Seaching for the Missing Links in Narrative Desistance: Integrating Narrative and Psychosocial Criminology with Social Psychological Theories of Self

• In Event: Narrative Criminology

Abstract

The self has been a popular topic in desistance research, as it provides an avenue for measuring progress towards the development of a replacement self incompatible with crime. However, the means by which a replacement self is produced and even what that replacement self looks like have proven to be enigmatic. Narrative researchers have attempted to broach this topic, but a holistic explanation accounting for agentic, reflexive, and social aspects of the self is yet to be achieved. It is argued here that narrative approaches are suited to the task due to the analytical tools available to narrative researchers and the epistemological fluidity afforded by the approach; however, success has been hindered by researchers overlooking the role of the experiential on the self, as well as the likely fractious nature of a messy self-change process being masked by post-hoc rebiographing in retrospective data. This paper seeks to present a solution to these issues through integration of narrative and psychosocial criminological approaches with social psychological theory, to develop a process by which the self can be appreciated holistically, addressing the social, reflexive and agentic selves. Integrating Gadd & Jefferson's (2007) psychosocial criminology is proposed as a solution to the aforementioned oversights, as experience and incoherence feature heavily in their approach, plugging the gaps in narrative research to date. Moreover, narratives will be presented as a psychosocial phenomenon, further supporting the integration of the two methods. Finally, the integration of social psychological theory to ground analyses can further explain and validate findings. Integrating these elements can improve our understanding of self-change through desistance, providing avenues for future research and development of useful interventions.

Author

• Simon Félix, The University of Westminster