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Culture & Psychology
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Modes of Tension Work within the Complex Self

Emily Abbey

Ramapo College of New Jersey, USA, eabbey{at}ramapo.edu

Rachel Joffe Falmagne

Clark University, USA, rfalmagne{at}clarku.edu

As part of increased attention to the complexity of `self' and subjectivity, Falmagne recently presented a theory in which `self' is seen as constituted through the dialectic among processes at societal, local and `personal' (i.e., agentive) levels. The `self', so constituted, can be hybrid and filled with tensions, yet it remains substantial rather than fluid. Building from this perspective and related approaches, the aim of this article is to contribute to the growing understanding of self complexity by focusing on how individuals create cohesive `selves' and `minds' despite the presence of tension and contradiction. Our focus involves a detailed textual analysis of the `tension work' that individuals perform as they reason through contradictory beliefs. Based on these analyses, this article identifies three unique strategies for creating cohesion amidst contradiction.

Key Words: complexity • contradiction • dialectic • mind • self • tension work

Culture & Psychology, Vol. 14, No. 1, 95-113 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1354067X07082749
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