ABSTRACT
The quest for self-knowledge is a key reason why people search for their family history. We talk about finding more about our ‘identity’ or sense of self, including knowledge of where we come from, family-wise, culturally and ethnically. Tracing family history can influence one’s identity through anchoring us, via our ancestors, within the broader context of history. It can provide us with links to our tribe or clan, that is, make manifest our wider cultural connections, leading to a stronger sense of belongingness. Through genealogical discoveries, individuals may engage in identity reworking, producing a more enriched life narrative and a stronger sense of life meaning, processes that have been shown conducive to mental health. And while such exploration is not always emotionally comfortable (for example, when we discover ancestors who may be less worthy than we had imagined), it can, on the other hand, boost self-esteem as we recognise the contexts of our own and our ancestors’ struggles and successes.
