This chapter integrates theories of the good life and the life story, showing how the two phenomena scaffold each other into existence—and form a good life story. The chapter first examines concepts of time, narrative, change, development, and growth. Metaphors that suggest growthiness are listed, but growth proper emerges in narrative meaning-making. The chapter provides an overview of how the facets of value are shaped and conveyed via narrative tone, theme, and structure. Tone conveys whether an event turns out well subjectively (i.e., value fulfillment). Theme conveys why an event is subjectively important (i.e., value orientation). Structure conveys the objective degrees of value perspectivity by which events, tones, and themes are interpreted. Like the three facets of value, narrative tone, theme, and structure combine to convey the four superordinate categories of a good life story—happiness, love, wisdom, and growth—toward which a transformative self aims.
FAMILY IN THE VALUE ORIENTATION STRUCTURE OF A MODERN STUDENT
