Mechanisms of Selection in Claiming Narrative Identities: A Model for Interpreting Narratives

Abstract

Aiming at a tight correspondence between narrative epistemology and methodology, a model for interpreting narratives is proposed that derives from a theoretical conception of how identities are claimed via stories. The narrative production is conceived as consisting of six mechanisms of selection, through which biographical facts are chosen, filtered, and sorted, with the purpose of confirming an established end point. Accordingly, the analysis seeks to identify the expressions of these mechanisms in a given story, as a way to recognize the identity being claimed. A holistic interpretive strategy underlies the process, requiring that both life and story be considered, treating the narrative as a whole unit, regarding form and content, paying attention to contexts, and employing a multidimensional interdisciplinary lens. Following the presentation of the interpretive model and its underlying theoretical foundation, the analysis is demonstrated through life stories of retired senior officers from Israel’s founding generation.