| The problem investigated in this study is the complexity of narrative identity development of an African-American male who was incarcerated at 16 years old and served 15 years in an adult correctional facility. Using a Race Self Complexity theoretical framework, this psychobiography integrated narrative identity theory with racial identity theory. Using a concurrent mixed methods data collection design, data were collected using the Lifestory Interview, Guided Race Autobiography, Personal Strivings Task, NEO-PI-R, Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity Inventory, and the Twenty Statements Test to address the question how will an African-American male, who has been incarcerated as an adolescent in adult correctional facilities, construct the story of his life and its meaning post release? Narrative structural, thematic content and discourse analysis of James' autobiographical memories yielded three major findings: (1) James has a complex method of orientating his audience within his autobiographical memories, (2) James predominately constructs his autobiographical memories using redemptive sequences, and (3) Race is central to James self concept and he shares a psychological closeness to African Americans. These findings lead to the Narrative Identity Structural Theory that the structures of autobiographical memories describe a person's unique narrative identity. |
