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Forms of Positioning in the Dialogical Self

A System of Classification and the Strange Case of Dame Edna Everage

School of Psychology, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Queensland, Australia, Peter.Raggatt{at}jcu.edu.au

Notions of a `dialogical self' are finding application across many areas of psychology and beyond into neighbouring social sciences disciplines. This breadth, however, creates problems of overall coherence. When authors refer to a `dialogical self', they are not always talking about the same thing. In this paper I address this problem by considering theories of positioning . I argue that dialogical theory and positioning theory are closely inter-linked, and that forms of positioning which bear on the dialogical self can be classified. A system is outlined which organizes forms of positioning by mode of expression (e.g. discursive, performed, embodied), sources of dynamic conflict (e.g. moral career, agency, communion) and cultural and social constructions (e.g. roles, power hierarchies). The paper discusses the classificatory system and illustrates different forms of positioning in the life of the Australian actor and comic satirist Barry Humphries.

Key Words: Barry Humphries • conflict • dialogical self • identity • personality • positioning theory • social constructionism

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