ABSTRACT
Intergenerational narratives sit at the nexus of the person and the larger culture. Intergenerational narratives provide models of both narratives and selves for adolescents; they express ways of understanding what a life looks like, how experiences should be evaluated, and what it means to be an individual that is part of this family. Intergenerational narratives may extend the scaffolding beyond one’s own experience, situating it within a relatable family history that provides meaning for individual lives. In essence, intergenerational narratives may help adolescents frame an intergenerational self, a way of understanding themselves as a member of a family that provides both an historical and emotional anchor for their self-identity. In general, adolescents who know more of their family history report positive benefits, and themselves tell more coherent and elaborated intergenerational narratives. But not only do adolescents benefit from hearing these stories; parents and grandparents benefit from telling them.
