Dialogical Self Theory : Positioning and Counter-Positioning in a Globalizing Society

Dialogical Self Theory provides a comprehensive social-scientific theory that incorporates the deep implications of globalization, and its impact on individual development. Hubert Hermans and Agnieszka Hermans-Konopka present a compelling view of the historical changes in perceptions of social realities, and how these changes affected motivation, emotion, leadership and conflict resolution.

In a boundary-crossing and globalizing world, the personal and social positions in self and identity become increasingly dense, heterogeneous and even conflicting. In this handbook scholars of different disciplines, nations and cultures (East and West) bring together their views and applications of dialogical self theory in such a way that deeper commonalities are brought to the surface. As a 'bridging theory', dialogical self theory reveals unexpected links between a broad variety of phenomena, such as self and identity problems in education and psychotherapy, multicultural identities, child-rearing practices, adult development, consumer behaviour, the use of the internet and the value of silence. Researchers and practitioners present different methods of investigation, both qualitative and quantitative, and also highlight applications of dialogical self theory.