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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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Theory & Psychology, Vol. 17, No. 3, 355-382 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0959354307077288


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Raggatt, P. T.F. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?