Introducing micro-phenomenology: Learn how this rigorous interview technique can be applied to uncover common subjective structures of key constructs in positive psychology.

Introducing micro-phenomenology: Learn how this rigorous interview technique can be applied to uncover common subjective structures of key constructs in positive psychology.

Introducing micro-phenomenology: Learn how this rigorous interview technique can be applied to uncover common subjective structures of key constructs in positive psychology. (#642)

Jeanne L Catherine ¹ ²

Innate Health Research, Shelter Island, NY, United States
Intergral & Transpersonal Psychology, The California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA, USA

Background

Claire Petitmengin used the explicitation interview developed by Vermersch (1996) to gather implicit subjective experiences of intuition. Since that time, she has launched a systematic method for describing and analyzing shared aspects of experiences. For this presentation, I will use my research into insightful change as an example of what this method can do for the field of positive psychology.

Aims

This presentation aims to introduce the science and practice of micro-phenomenology to researchers interested in further defining and refining the phenomenology of constructs applied in positive psychology. Since my investigation examined the shared subjective structures of insight among men living in a UK prison, a moment that led to a specific positive behavioral change, my data will be used as examples for the presentation. However, the aim of the presentation is to introduce and provide an experience of the method to attendees.

Method

This presentation will provide an overview of the micro-phenomenological method through description and hands-on experience. Examples will be drawn from my own study of implicit subjective structures of insight conducted during two 3-day visits in June and December of 2019, among seventeen male volunteers (aged 18 to 56) in a UK prison.

Results

Participants will receive an overview of the technique, examples of its application, and direct experience of the method.

Conclusion

By breaking down an experience into a finer and more detailed dimension, the data become structures of what is embodied, in other words, ‘how’ an experience unfolds and not ‘what’ one thinks about the experience. This method is relevant because researchers recommend further phenomenological study to understand more accurately the experience of key constructs in positive psychology: how individuals experience these constructs, what the shared generic structures of these constructs are, and generic structures can be compared with neural-physiological measurements. Such descriptions are roadmaps to delimitate elusive constructs used in positive psychology.

Please select up to 3 keywords from the following list to best describe your submission content: Interdisciplinarity, Neuroscience
If you indicated that you would like to be considered for an Apply Presentation, please select your presentation sub-category below: How-to-trainings

#IPPAWorldCongress

Authors contributing to this presentation.

Catherine, J.L

Jeanne Catherine is the co-founder and co-leader of Innate Health Research, a non-profit consultancy dedicated to the evidence and dissemination of information about innovative mental health programming. Jeanne spent the last four years as the Executive Director of Three Principles Research & Consulting, where she led and funded research into the efficacy of grassroots programming delivered to high-risk populations. Now, as IHR’s Chief Operating Officer, Jeanne continues to handle project design and implementation, outreach and education, and practitioner collaboration, and provides method expertise in micro-phenomenology. She is currently completing her Ph.D. at the California Institute of Integral Studies in Transpersonal Psychology and working on publishing the results from several studies examining the transformative potential of innate health realization (personal potential for clarity, wisdom, and creativity to guide decision-making) among high-risk populations. Jeanne has a passion for participatory research that empowers women and disenfranchised groups to take back their voices and act for social change. She is steadfast in her commitment to using science to inform mental health interventions. Her personal goal is to address how mental health programs are designed and accessed so that marginalized and disenfranchised groups are supported in leveraging their own capacity for well-being and social change. Jeanne uses her skills as a mother, mentor, and mediator to teach co-parenting classes at the Charlottesville Mediation Center in VA and Nia™ classes on the dance floor across the globe.

Introducing micro-phenomenology: Learn how this rigorous interview technique can be applied to uncover common subjective structures of key constructs in positive psychology. (#642)

Add notes

Catherine, J.L

Login