Dialogical Self Theory

Positioning and Counter-Positioning in a Globalizing Society

Hubert Hermans, Agnieszka Hermans-Konopka

published by Cambridge University Press, available from July 2010

Hardback

(ISBN-13: 9780521765268)

Dialogical Self Theory provides a comprehensive social-scientific theory that incorporates the deep implications of the process of globalisation, and its impact on individual development. Hubert Hermans and Agnieszka Hermans-Konopka present a new and compelling view of the historical changes in perceptions of social realities, and how these changes affected motivation, emotion, leadership and conflict resolution. They detail the improvement of dialogical relationships both within the self and between individuals, groups and cultures, providing evidence from everyday life. The book addresses a variety of problem areas that are analysed in new and unexpected ways: the pros and cons of traditional, modern, and post-modern models of self, the role of emotions, power and dominance, motivation, leadership, and conflict resolution. This book will be of interest to scholars in a wide range of fields including psychology and sociology.

Contents

Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. The impact of globalization and localization on self and identity; 2. Self and identity in historical perspective: traditional, modern, post-modern and dialogical models; 3. Positioning theory and dialogue; 4. Positioning and dialogue in life-long development; 5. A dialogical view on emotions; 6. Practical implications for organizations, motivation, and conflict-resolution.

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Reviews

‘The ‘dialogical self’ is among the most important and original new theories in the social sciences in the past 20 years. It is a theory for our times, addressing in complex and insightful ways the impacts that globalization has on psychological functioning. In this book, the theory is presented lucidly and thoroughly, covering an impressive range not only in psychology but sociology, economics, philosophy, and political studies. The book should be welcome in all those fields as a major contribution to the understanding of globalization.’ Jeffrey Arnett, Clark University

‘By far the most accessible and comprehensive statement to date on the Dialogical Self, this volume ranges across a set of problems that bring together the practical and theoretical, the local and global, positioning theory and emotion research, in a timely and important theoretical elaboration. The scope and promise of the authors’ work ensures that it will serve as a crucial reference for research and conceptual scholarship on the emerging conceptualization of the Dialogical Self.’ Henderikus J. Stam, Editor, Theory and Psychology

‘A highly original and scholarly discussion of the problems of subjectivity in the rapidly evolving global world. An evolved account of self experience is used to discuss, in a truly dialogical and interdisciplinary manner, the demands placed by contemporary world on the self and the ramifications of that for a range of social and psychological issues.’ Paul H. Lysaker, Indiana University School of Medicine

Source:  Cambridge University Press