How to Become Happy? Therapeutic Narrative in the Life Stories of Self-help Teachers in Lithuania Cover Image

Kaip tapti laimingam? Terapinio naratyvo konstravimas savipagalbos mokytojų gyvenimo istorijose Lietuvoje
How to Become Happy? Therapeutic Narrative in the Life Stories of Self-help Teachers in Lithuania

Author(s): Giedrė Plepytė-Davidavičienė
Subject(s): Psychology, Family and social welfare
Published by: Lietuvos mokslų akademijos leidykla
Keywords: happiness; therapeutic culture; therapeutic narrative; self­help;

Summary/Abstract: The article discusses how a therapeutic narrative is constructed in the life stories of self­help teachers in Lithuania. In­depth interviews with the members of the study group revealed that a prevalent structure of the narrative of this group could be discerned and identified as therapeutic narrative. It adapts the perspective of Western therapeu­tic culture and modifies it by introducing the dichotomy of ‘true’ and ‘false’ desire for self­transformation. The causes of personal misery are here explained by the prevailing emotional culture specific to Lithuania. This culture is characterised here by general fear, mistrust, insecurity, and the stigmatisation of the display of positive emotions as consequences of the experienced cultural trauma and anomie in the Lithuanian society.

  • Issue Year: 33/2022
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 158-166
  • Page Count: 9
  • Language: Lithuanian