Narrative concepts and analysis in Spiritually- based communities

Abstract

Researchers from a wide variety of disciplines have found narratives to be useful explaining cross-level psychological phenomena. Narratives with different sources and functions occur at group (dominant cultural and community narratives) and individual levels of analysis (stories). A variety of methods can be used to identify, record, and analyze narratives and stories. Research on narratives may be particularly useful for understanding the relationship between social process and individual experience, especially in spiritually based communities (e.g., religious organizations). Narratives in spiritual settings appear to serve a variety of functions in community life including fostering development of members' identity, defining community membership (i.e., gatekeeping), building a sense of community, and facilitating personal change. As such, local community narratives are vital psychological resources, particularly where dominant cultural narratives fail to adequately represent the lived experience of individuals. The documentation and analysis of narratives is, therefore, a worthy project for community psychologists. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.