CHARTING LIFE METAPHORS FOR STRATEGIC COPING
Abstract
This study examines the use of metaphor in helping individuals cope with daily life. The specific problems which this research confronts are deciding what components can be (1) found in an individual's discourse and (2) can be related to daily coping strategies. Forty-nine individuals were interviewed and invited to discuss their lives. The recurrent patterns which emerged from these interviews indicated a model of life perspectives. This model consists of two dimensions: activity and evaluation. The individual life metaphors were then charted on this model. The model confirmed the presence of the components which were identified as helping an individual cope with life. Moreover, an individual's metaphoric framework corresponds to his or her coping strategies.
Degree
Ph.D.
Subject Area
Communication
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