| dc.description.abstract | Although the practice of journal writing has existed for
centuries, it is a little understood and highly understudied G area in the psychological literature. Attempts have been made
to describe the benefits and drawbacks of this practice and to
highlight the factors involved when an individual begins and
maintains a journal. However, these efforts have been
philosophical, anecdotal or testimonial. The present study is
based on the grounded theory method. This is a discovery model
of research which aims to generate theory that is grounded in
data. To accomplish this goal, there is an exploration for
processes. More specifically, there is a search for a basic
social psychological process (BSPP) that accounts for all or
most of the variation observed in the individuals involved in
the particular phenomenon under study. Unstructured interviews
were conducted with six individuals who had been journal writers
for a minimum of one year. Recreating Self was the basic social
psychological process found. This is a process whereby the
journal writer resolves the basic problem of dissatisfaction
with self by initiating changes in his or her behaviors,
attitudes, and/or circumstances. The process consists of four
stages: (a) Focusing on Self, (b) Exploring Options, (c)
Composting, and (d) Maintaining Self. This model conceptualizes
the cumulative and recursive process involved in the journal
writer's cultivation of experiences and participation in
self-development. | en_US |
