Answering the question of 'How have you become the person you are today?' encourages people to build their narrative identity, referring to their ever-changing, internalized life story. Life stories are grounded in autobiographical memory and provide the basis for the experience of personhood; that is, the experience of being an individual with a past, present, and future in a certain culture at a certain time. Traditionally, researchers have approached the study of life story psychology either by focusing on autobiographical memories or through narratives of individual memories, life story chapters, or entire life narratives. This book is the first to bring these isolated approaches together to reveal new perspectives on how people construct their identities and understand their lives across time and cultural contexts. Featuring chapters by leading experts, it offers a thorough introduction to both approaches that enriches our understanding of life story psychology.

‘Camia and Bohn offer a compelling exploration of how autobiographical memory and life stories shape personal identity. This work brings together leading scholars to bridge the gap between cognitive and narrative approaches, shedding light on the functions of memory, cultural influences, and the social dimensions of life storytelling. By integrating perspectives on master narratives, social support, and developmental trajectories, this book provides an essential resource for anyone interested in the intricate ways memory constructs and sustains our sense of self.’

Mohamad El Haj - Full Professor, University of Nantes, France

‘This timely and engaging book provides a comprehensive account of research on the intersection of narrative identity and autobiographical memory. Contributions from leading experts unite cognitive and narrative perspectives and highlight the importance of studying life stories. This is an essential text for all students and researchers in the field.’

Clare Rathbone - Associate Professor in Psychology, Oxford Brookes University, UK

‘This work is a must-have for any student and/or academic interested in autobiographical memory, life stories and narrative studies. The contributions are erudite, well-written and lay out the state-of-the-art within the field as well as provide fruitful avenues for future research.’

Charles B. Stone - Associate Professor of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, The City University of New York, USA