PROSPECTIVE REFLECTION USING ‘LETTERS FROM THE FUTURE’: THE Story LAB EXPERIENCEWORKSHOP & LECTURE TAVISTOCK CENTRE LONDON

WEDNESDAY 30 APRIL 2015

ANNEKE SOOLS (& GERBEN WESTERHOF)

www.utwente.nl/lifestorylab (English)

www.levensverhalenlab.nl (Dutch)

WEBSITE:ENGLISH SPEAKING RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS VERY WELCOME!!

Google analytics19.323 sessions13.704 visitors350 p/month88% coverage NL

Theory/Methodologie• Identity memories• Narrative futuring• Story line analysisInterventies• Stories we live by (Op verhaal komen): group, email, online• Precious memories (Dierbare herinneringen)

Story LAB: SOME KEY PRODUCTS

Widening scope: From lifestories to stories

Organisational embedding: Centre for e-health and well-being

Focus: Narrative technology

Meaningful and humanizing technology• Technology-enhanced narrative care practices• Technology for narrative data collection and analysis• Narrative construction of technology in health care and in daily lives

From lifestoryLAB to Story LAB

Background

People have always used technology for telling, writing, and sharing stories. New technology offers new possibilities and risks.

TECHNOLOGY-ENHANCED NARRATIVE (CARE) PRACTICES

Current (PhD)-projects:• Silvia Pol: Stories of patients with personality disorders• Tom Vansteenkiste: Photovoice intervention for chronic psychiatric patients• Monique Engelbertink: Autobiographical reflection on professional identity

using persuasive technology • Jacky van de Goor: Meaning and function of after life memories• Sheila Adjiembaks: Lifestories of resisters to crime• Annemarie Lohuis: Professional and team identity stories in solution-

focused care

TECHNOLOGY-ENHANCED NARRATIVE (CARE) PRACTICES

Background

Text mining, computational models of narrative and language technology allow analysing large datasets and change over time. Moreover, multi-modal analyses can be facilitated.

TECHNOLOGY FOR NARRATIVE ANALYSIS

Current research projects• Verbal and nonverbal emotion expression in Croatian war memories• Verbal and nonverbal emotion expression in counseller-client

conversations Precious Memories

Research proposals• STW: Massive data science for health care• NWO: Listen (narrative data infrastructure)• Imagination: Text mining and narrative future imagination• MQ: Text mining of client-therapist relationship in online intervention

TECHNOLOGY FOR NARRATIVE ANALYSIS

Background

Technology as scripted artifact/affordance (not neutral but affording meaning) about use and interaction, yet at the same time possibility to personalise/inhabit. Narrative construction of technology: insight in identity/values afforded by technology.

NARRATIVE CONSTRUCTION OF TECHNOLOGY

Research proposals• UT Health campaign: Stories about deep brain stimulation• HERA: Oral history of technological innovation• Tech4People: Future scenarios robot technology in health care

Future opportunities• Research of meaning emerging technologies• Using stories in scenario studies (designing meaningful/humanizing

technology)• Theory development: narrative approach to human-machine interaction

NARRATIVE CONSTRUCTION OF TECHNOLOGY

NARRATIVE FUTURINGPROSPECTIVE REFLECTION USING LETTERS FROM THE FUTURE

Retrospective focus in psychological theory and practice(Sools, Tromp & Mooren, 2015; Sools & Mooren, 2012; Seligman et al., 2013)

Futuring in psychology

Consciousness as a “fighter for ends”

and the brain as “an instrument of possibilities”

(William James)

Futuring in psychology

Consciousness as a “fighter for ends”

and the brain as “an instrument of possibilities”

(William James)

Leitlinie: “psychic life is future-directed and

teleological: it is striving toward a

goal” (Adler)

Futuring in psychology

“No theory of psychology will ever be complete which does not centrally

incorporate the concept that man has his future within him, dynamically active at this present moment”

(Abraham Maslow)

Consciousness as a “fighter for ends”

and the brain as “an instrument of possibilities”

(William James)

Leitlinie: “psychic life is future-directed and

teleological: it is striving toward a

goal” (Adler)

Futuring in psychology

“No theory of psychology will ever be complete which does not centrally

incorporate the concept that man has his future within him, dynamically active at this present moment”

(Abraham Maslow)

Consciousness as a “fighter for ends”

and the brain as “an instrument of possibilities”

(William James)

Leitlinie: “psychic life is future-directed and

teleological: it is striving toward a

goal” (Adler)

“This future as interruption or break positions us as responsible, and as

needing to attend to the requirements of justice. Its call is also a gift, always opening

up the possibility of a new context; in responding to that call, therefore, we are always

on the move, always living and making a story”.(Corinne Squire)

Futuring in psychology

“No theory of psychology will ever be complete which does not centrally

incorporate the concept that man has his future within him, dynamically active at this present moment”

(Abraham Maslow)

Consciousness as a “fighter for ends”

and the brain as “an instrument of possibilities”

(William James)

Leitlinie: “psychic life is future-directed and

teleological: it is striving toward a

goal” (Adler)

“This future as interruption or break positions us as responsible, and as

needing to attend to the requirements of justice. Its call is also a gift, always opening

up the possibility of a new context; in responding to that call, therefore, we are always

on the move, always living and making a story”.(Corinne Squire)

Guiding current

thought and action

(Lombardo)

Futuring in psychology

“No theory of psychology will ever be complete which does not centrally

incorporate the concept that man has his future within him, dynamically active at this present moment”

(Abraham Maslow)

Consciousness as a “fighter for ends”

and the brain as “an instrument of possibilities”

(William James)

Leitlinie: “psychic life is future-directed and

teleological: it is striving toward a

goal” (Adler)

“This future as interruption or break positions us as responsible, and as

needing to attend to the requirements of justice. Its call is also a gift, always opening

up the possibility of a new context; in responding to that call, therefore, we are always

on the move, always living and making a story”.(Corinne Squire)

The future as organizing principle for

human behaviour

(Seligman et al.)

Guiding current

thought and action

(Lombardo)

Futuring in psychology

“No theory of psychology will ever be complete which does not centrally

incorporate the concept that man has his future within him, dynamically active at this present moment”

(Abraham Maslow)

Consciousness as a “fighter for ends”

and the brain as “an instrument of possibilities”

(William James)

Leitlinie: “psychic life is future-directed and

teleological: it is striving toward a

goal” (Adler)

“This future as interruption or break positions us as responsible, and as

needing to attend to the requirements of justice. Its call is also a gift, always opening

up the possibility of a new context; in responding to that call, therefore, we are always

on the move, always living and making a story”.(Corinne Squire)

The future as organizing principle for

human behaviour

(Seligman et al.)

Guiding current

thought and action

(Lombardo)

Only recently call for a ‘science of prospection’ (Seligman et al)

Futuring in psychology

Miracle exercise

Letters from the futureFuneral

speech or In Memoriam

Futuring in psychology

Miracle exercise

Letters from the futureFuneral

speech or In Memoriam

Limited empirical research of how and why futuring works to improve health

Relationship between components of future imagination and well-being, resilience, health- emotions and mood, pessimism and optimism - goals and motives - hope - possible selves

Focus on the components and effects of futuring rather than on the process and content of imagining the future as a whole

Role of imagination in futuring seems underrepresented

EMPIRICAL RESEARCHFUTURING AND MENTAL HEALTH

Era of pessimism (Wright):• diminished expectations and imagination• the idea that the social world could be

fundamentally changed …and that people could live flourishing lives seems naïve, perhaps even ridiculous. …

• radical pessimism and cynicism itself a constraint on creating a more just and humane world

Postmodern entrapment (Kearney, 1989): demise of imagination and death of truth

In psychology: focus on ‘reality’ (not phantasy), on concrete (not ‘vague’)

Risks and challenges to futuring

Risks and challenges to futuring

Provide: Purpose, direction, motivation, inspiration, hope, connection

Making evil plans

Wish, dream, desire a better life

Generation possible selves, thought and action

Identifying goals and values

Activating potential (wise, higher self)

Temporality and possibility key concerns: Narrative, defined as “trafficking in possibilities rather than certainties”

(Bruner, 1986) is perfectly suited to explore future imagination

“We tell our stories about the past within the horizon of a valued ending” (Gergen, 1994)

However, the future itself does not become object of study in its own right in the same way as the past

FUTURING IN NARRATIVE PSYCHOLOGY

“an empty space that yet has to acquire meaning” (Freeman, 2009)

“There is a crucial formal difference between images and stories recollected and those projected. Those recollected are capable of high definition, a large measure of completeness. An image of the future is vague and sketchy, a story incomplete and thin” (Crites, 1986)

A narrative way of imagining the future as an experiencing subject requires: Change of perspective to a “self whose present is

projecting him into the future … in his aspect as an experiencing subject”

(Crites, 1986)

Recognition of the narrative form of possible selves (Erikson, 2007)

FUTURING IN NARRATIVE PSYCHOLOGY

1) Imagining

“It is just starting to snow outside, but here – inside – it is comfortably warm”

2) Orienting

“I had to find the answer to the question Who am I. The first thing I did was quit

looking TV, Youtube, movies and other distracting material. I needed the silence”

3) Evaluating

“These negative events can also be described as possibilities that effectively

shaped my personality to the human being I am today”

4) Expressing emotions

“I am really glad all came out that well”

5) Engaging in dialogue

“You were so afraid to fail” or “That is something I have never told you before” or

“So, don’t be afraid and defend your own choices!”

LETTER COMPONENTS

Letter types

Letter type 1. Imagining and evaluating the futured past

Krakau, 2054

Dear grandchildren,

What life brought me in 94 years of living, is the insight that three things really matter. All the rest is in vain. After the great inflation the plundering began. We had to flee from our house. Your fathers were killed while defending us. I can still feel the pain, but what we saved is our dignity. That’s my legacy for you.

John

Letter type 2 : imagining and orienting to the futured present/past

Italy, 2016

Hello Susan,I'm writing you from a sunny place in Italy. I developed myself not only in sports but also personally. I decided to go play volleyball in Italy and start a Masters at Milan university. I realize there is more than sports. I want to mean something for children with a disorder. I'm a blessed person. Love, Susan

Letter type 3. Expressive imagination of futured present

Africa, December 2013

Dear me,

I have just arrived at the office of a company in Africa and look out of the window while the sun shines at my desk. I am surrounded by books. It is calm and peaceful. I finished my study. I have this lovely job and plenty of time to enjoy the people in Africa. I became aware of how important making decisions is for living a good life. Try to suck the marrow out of life.

Myself

Letter type 4. Imagination and evaluation of the past

Deventer, November 18 2052

Dear Max,

Do you remember the old days, [when in class] you could design your own dream house? As a child you wanted to become a knight and when became clear that you would be frowned upon, this quickly changed. Yet, you kept on dreaming about a beautiful mansion at the edge of a forest and a great lake. At the time you could not imagine this would ever happen. Looking back I could give you wonderful advice, but i’m not doing so because of the risk of changing the future. Keep discovering yourself.

Kind regards,

Max

Letter type 5. Prospective intentional orientation

To whoever reads this,

Hello. One day I hope to be a grandmother. I hope to get two children, a boy and a girl. I hope I will be their favourite nanny. And, of course, I hope that we all be happy and in good health. This is my wish for my life in about forty years from now.

Sylvia

2041Dear P., This letter is to help you decide, knowing that you’re feeling overwhelmed and suffocating. I know that you always weigh pros and cons rationally. Yet, in case of doubt your heart can and should make the difference. Go for it!ps, consider stocks by Extra Green Solutions and dump Royal Dutch Shell.Your alter ego, P.

Letter type 6: advisory letters about current concerns

CONCLUSIONS & DISCUSSION

• The six letter types provide “usable pathways” (cf. Frank, 1998) to locate where participants are when invited to engage in narrative futuring

Study the form, structure and contents of future narratives to explain why and when some kinds of narrative futuring are beneficial to well-being (or not)

• Future-oriented counterpart of life-review, prospective reflection instrumentInvest in looking forward to encourage living according to one’s values, and to evoke narratives as moral appeals from the future (Squire, 2012)

• Goal-setting relevant part of futuring, but only two out of six types have a clear orienting part (with or without concrete goals)

Investigate all components of future imagination, e.g. the dialogical relation between future self and present self to study and stimulate self-development