Being authentic is the new image: a qualitative study on the authenticity constructions and self-images of Christian millennials in Africa. Issue 3 (15th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Counted, Victor
• Is Part Of: Mental health, religion & culture. Volume 19:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 268
• Page End: 294
• Publication Date: 2016-03-15
• Subjects: Authenticity -- African authenticity -- self-discovery -- splitting -- identity crisis and selfhood; Mental health -- Religious aspects -- Periodicals; Religion and culture -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Religious aspects -- Periodicals; Mentally ill -- Pastoral counseling of -- Periodicals; 306.461
• DOI: 10.1080/13674676.2016.1168388
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-4676

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The article is a qualitative study that focuses on the authenticity and self-constructions of Christian millennials in Africa. While exploring how 15 respondents manifested their authentic self-behaviours using a case study design, the hallmark of the study was to observe the common coping mechanism of self-regulation, adopted by respondents to deal with their internal crisis. This coping strategy was employed as they remained true to self by creating new "authentic" images of themselves in the forms of the borderline self, the promissory self, the hyphenated self, and the religious self . By implication, looking at the issue of authenticity from an African context has produced an African conceptualisation of authenticity. I argue that African authenticity can be understood by interpreting Africa's voices of self-expression and images of self-definition, resonating within various African contexts in hope for some kind of cathartic and authentic living experience.