Life Stories

Browsing through Blogger's Next Blog feature, I happened upon Watch the Glass's May 22, 2007 post in which she discusses a New York Times article by Benedict Carey entitled This Is Your Life (and How You Tell It).

Carey reports that researchers have found interesting tendencies in how different types of people narrate their lives:

In analyzing the texts, the researchers found strong correlations between the content of people’s current lives and the stories they tell. Those with mood problems have many good memories, but these scenes are usually tainted by some dark detail. The pride of college graduation is spoiled when a friend makes a cutting remark. The wedding party was wonderful until the best man collapsed from drink. A note of disappointment seems to close each narrative phrase.

By contrast, so-called generative adults — those who score highly on tests measuring civic-mindedness, and who are likely to be energetic and involved — tend to see many of the events in their life in the reverse order, as linked by themes of redemption. They flunked sixth grade but met a wonderful counselor and made honor roll in seventh. They were laid low by divorce, only to meet a wonderful new partner. Often, too, they say they felt singled out from very early in life — protected, even as others nearby suffered.

Carey goes on to detail how someone can move forward more positively based upon how s/he narrates negative episodes from his/her life.

Elizabeth from Watch the Glass adds some smart and savvy analysis of her own:

It's a simple drag-and-drop: if I can drag the beginning of the next story to the end of the previous one and drop it there, suddenly the narrative hints at excellent fortune and good timing in my life.

She's only got four posts since April but I found them all quite edifying, albeit a bit on the wordy side.