Children and Adolescents’ Life Narrative Identity: Tools to Collect and Analyze.

In this symposium, we hope to explore the conceptualization of Narrative as an organizer of emotions and thoughts. Individuals reconstruct the past, perceive the present and anticipate the future in the form of an internalized, integrated and dynamic story of the self, which will enable them to give meaning and unity to their life. The ability to integrate different roles and experiences provides a greater awareness of oneself as the agent of one’s life and increases the sense of authorship. Narrative co-construction, by triggering autobiographical memories, fosters the development of cognitive skills cognitive, narrative and emotional regulation skills. Thus, co-construction facilitates the development of the individual’s identity and expression of self.

In the symposium we will give voice to researchers from the Webs of Meaning Research Group (CPUP-FPCEUP), dedicated to the study of meaning processes in developmental contexts, especially to facilitate the construction of identity. In addition, we will have the presence of a researcher from the FPCEE Blanquerna, with whom we have collaborated over the years, in the field of narrative research and clinical work. We propose to present oral communications focused on the construction of the Vital Narrative Identity, from childhood to adolescence. We intend to suggest methods of collection (Interview) and analysis (Narrative Productivity and Coherence), taking into consideration the scaffolding provided by the interviewer, the nature of the narrative demand, the nature of the narrative request and the elicitation interventions/supports. In addition, our FPCEE Blanquerna colleague will propose general guidelines for the development of clinical interventions with adolescents in foster care, especially in the construction of their narrative identity. Finally, we will present a proposal for a narrative collection format.