Exploring Core Addiction Themes and Their Resolution in Recovery Narratives Using the "Life as a Film" (LAAF) Procedure. Issue 4 (2nd October 2022)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Exploring Core Addiction Themes and Their Resolution in Recovery Narratives Using the "Life as a Film" (LAAF) Procedure. Issue 4 (2nd October 2022)
- Main Title:
- Exploring Core Addiction Themes and Their Resolution in Recovery Narratives Using the "Life as a Film" (LAAF) Procedure
- Authors:
- Rowlands, David
Youngs, Donna
Canter, David - Abstract:
- Abstract: Though narrative studies have provided important insights on addiction and recovery, social desirability and self-protective factors may limit the richness and relevance of standard "life story" accounts. In marginalized populations, the "Life as Film" (LAAF) procedure has proved useful for addressing these concerns. Building on this literature, the present study adopted the LAAF approach with an objective to undercover features distinguishing addiction and recovery narratives. Achieving this objective serves to model addiction and recovery in terms of narrative constructions and reconstructions. Thirty-two participants, active or in recovery from addiction, were recruited, producing LAAF narratives of their lives. Interviewees completed a Recovery Inventory (RI), to compare narrative material with recovery outcomes. Content analysis revealed three structures: (1) a high prevalence Core Plot, featuring interpersonal conflict, negative arousal and self-management via substance use; (2) an Addiction Narrative, with themes of victimization, betrayal, compulsion, and escapist protagonists; and (3) a Recovery Narrative, with themes of redemption, self-mastery, caring, unity, and healer protagonists. Findings build on existing literature, suggesting narrative processes through which core conflicts become embedded in addiction stories and resolved in recovery stories. These processes indicate psychological pathways to positive change, carrying implications forAbstract: Though narrative studies have provided important insights on addiction and recovery, social desirability and self-protective factors may limit the richness and relevance of standard "life story" accounts. In marginalized populations, the "Life as Film" (LAAF) procedure has proved useful for addressing these concerns. Building on this literature, the present study adopted the LAAF approach with an objective to undercover features distinguishing addiction and recovery narratives. Achieving this objective serves to model addiction and recovery in terms of narrative constructions and reconstructions. Thirty-two participants, active or in recovery from addiction, were recruited, producing LAAF narratives of their lives. Interviewees completed a Recovery Inventory (RI), to compare narrative material with recovery outcomes. Content analysis revealed three structures: (1) a high prevalence Core Plot, featuring interpersonal conflict, negative arousal and self-management via substance use; (2) an Addiction Narrative, with themes of victimization, betrayal, compulsion, and escapist protagonists; and (3) a Recovery Narrative, with themes of redemption, self-mastery, caring, unity, and healer protagonists. Findings build on existing literature, suggesting narrative processes through which core conflicts become embedded in addiction stories and resolved in recovery stories. These processes indicate psychological pathways to positive change, carrying implications for interventions. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Journal of constructivist psychology. Volume 35:Issue 4(2022)
- Journal:
- Journal of constructivist psychology
- Issue:
- Volume 35:Issue 4(2022)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 35, Issue 4 (2022)
- Year:
- 2022
- Volume:
- 35
- Issue:
- 4
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2022-0035-0004-0000
- Page Start:
- 1301
- Page End:
- 1327
- Publication Date:
- 2022-10-02
- Subjects:
- Personal construct theory -- Periodicals
Constructivism (Psychology) -- Periodicals
150.1985 - Journal URLs:
- http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/upcy20/current ↗
http://www.tandfonline.com/ ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1080/10720537.2021.1974322 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 1072-0537
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 4965.194000
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 23947.xml