TY - JOUR
T1 - Advancing an understanding of the body amid transition from a military life
AU - Grimell, J.M.
AU - van den Berg, Mariecke
PY - 2020/6/1
Y1 - 2020/6/1
N2 - In this article, we explore the process of transitions from a military life to a civilian life. Making use of the concepts offered by Dialogical Self Theory, we explore how individuals negotiate the acquisition of new, civilian identities by integrating different, sometimes conflicting, cultural I-positions. Moreover, in this article, we explore how this narrative process is reflected through embodied processes of becoming civilian. We do so by presenting an in-depth analysis of two case studies: that of former Lieutenant Peter, who fully transitions to civilian life, and of Sergeant Emma, who opts for a hybrid outcome, combining a civilian job with working as an instructor in the military. We will argue that the narrative and embodied process of transition are intertwined in self-identity work, and that attention to the specifics of this entanglement can be useful for professionals who counsel military personnel who transition to civilian life.
AB - In this article, we explore the process of transitions from a military life to a civilian life. Making use of the concepts offered by Dialogical Self Theory, we explore how individuals negotiate the acquisition of new, civilian identities by integrating different, sometimes conflicting, cultural I-positions. Moreover, in this article, we explore how this narrative process is reflected through embodied processes of becoming civilian. We do so by presenting an in-depth analysis of two case studies: that of former Lieutenant Peter, who fully transitions to civilian life, and of Sergeant Emma, who opts for a hybrid outcome, combining a civilian job with working as an instructor in the military. We will argue that the narrative and embodied process of transition are intertwined in self-identity work, and that attention to the specifics of this entanglement can be useful for professionals who counsel military personnel who transition to civilian life.
KW - Veterans
KW - body
KW - dialogical self
KW - identity
KW - military
KW - transition
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85068614679&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85068614679&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1354067X19861054
DO - 10.1177/1354067X19861054
M3 - Article
SN - 1354-067X
VL - 26
SP - 187
EP - 210
JO - Culture and Psychology
JF - Culture and Psychology
IS - 2
ER -