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Approaches to Narrative Analysis: Using Personal, Dialogical and Social Stories to Promote Peace

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Methodologies in Peace Psychology

Part of the book series: Peace Psychology Book Series ((PPBS,volume 26))

Abstract

Narrative is a pervasive form of communication in the social world. Stories provide an accessible way to understand the social context of conflict resolution and peace-making processes. In this chapter, examples of narrative theorizing and research from several disciplines are reviewed to focus, in turn, on interpretations of personal experience, identity, storytelling, culture and social circumstances. The ways that narrative analysis can contribute to the integration of these aspects is outlined. As narrative research is used to interpret personal stories in the context of social struggles and historical developments, it provides an opportunity to move beyond individualistic accounts of conflict towards shared resolution and peace. Areas of research in peace studies that could benefit from the use of narrative enquiry are discussed, and examples of methods that include talks, texts, pictures and objects as data are described. Narrative enquiry is a flexible and accessible approach to understanding conflict resolution and peace, which could be used more widely in peace studies.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Mary Breheny

  2. School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Christine Stephens

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  1. Mary Breheny
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  2. Christine Stephens
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Correspondence to Mary Breheny .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia

    Diane Bretherton

  2. Victoria University, Melbournne, Victoria, Australia

    Siew Fang Law

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Breheny, M., Stephens, C. (2015). Approaches to Narrative Analysis: Using Personal, Dialogical and Social Stories to Promote Peace. In: Bretherton, D., Law, S. (eds) Methodologies in Peace Psychology. Peace Psychology Book Series, vol 26. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18395-4_14

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