ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we discuss the role of narrative and how we can detect transformation through analyzing the changes in how people talk about themselves and their circumstances. There are changes in the wording they use and in how they describe what has taken place, their relationships with others, and their own sense of agency. We live our lives in stories and some of these are helpful and generative and lead us to accomplishing much and living fulfilling lives. Other stories may stifle us and prevent us from advancing because we get stuck in a negative loop of what we cannot do. The stories can even be harmful in that they feed false information or undermine our self-esteem.
