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Question

Discuss how the narrative approach to personality hinges on answering the question, Who am I ?". 

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CSE 2025 (Prelims) CSAT Official Paper (25-May-2025)

The narrative approach to personality fundamentally hinges on answering the question, "Who am I?". This perspective, prominently associated with theorists like Dan McAdams, posits that our personality isn't just a collection of traits or behaviors, but a coherent, evolving life story we construct about ourselves. This personal narrative integrates our past, present, and anticipated future, providing a sense of unity, purpose, and identity.

Individuals actively "author" their lives, selecting, interpreting, and weaving together significant events, relationships, and aspirations into a unique autobiographical story. This narrative serves as an internal filter, shaping how we perceive new experiences and react to the world. The "Who am I?" question is not answered by listing characteristics, but by recounting a story – a series of chapters, protagonists, antagonists, challenges, and resolutions that give meaning to one's existence. Our understanding of who we are is therefore dynamic, reflecting our ongoing effort to make sense of our experiences and define our place in the world through storytelling.

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