Forbes, Melissa, Goopy, Jason, and Krause, Amanda E. (2024) Becoming singular: Musical identity construction and maintenance through the lens of identity process theory. Psychology of Music. (In Press)

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Abstract

This study uses identity process theory to understand the social–psychological processes that motivate individuals to construct an identity in which music, singing, and singing teaching feature prominently. We conducted reflexive thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 10 Australian singing teachers (with an average age 60) to understand how they enacted identity principles that motivate identity construction and maintenance. Findings were captured in two themes: (1) ‘It has just been music’: Living a musical life is my destiny; (2) ‘I know my value’: Achieving goals in music and teaching is motivating. Participants’ consistent musical engagement across the lifespan satisfied the identity principles of continuity and positive distinctiveness. The identity principles of self-efficacy and self-esteem were satisfied through the social connections created with peers and through teaching singing; participants derived self-worth from celebrating and contributing to the success of others. Teaching singing was a way to become ‘singular’, that is, distinctive, and distinctively valued by the self and others. This article provides an example of how identity process theory can be applied in musical identities research to uncover new insights into the psychological processes of identity construction, with implications for understanding identity resilience and musical engagement across the lifespan.

Item ID:	83667
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1741-3087
Keywords:	identities in music, singing teachers, music education, motivation, self-esteem, self-efficacy, identity process theory, music psychology, music performance, singing, teaching, music education, psychology of music, social and applied psychology of music, singers
Related URLs:	https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177...
Copyright Information:	© The Author(s) 2024. CC BY-NC
Date Deposited:	17 Sep 2024 22:23
FoR Codes:	36 CREATIVE ARTS AND WRITING > 3603 Music > 360399 Music not elsewhere classified @ 30% 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5205 Social and personality psychology > 520505 Social psychology @ 70%
SEO Codes:	13 CULTURE AND SOCIETY > 1301 Arts > 130102 Music @ 30% 28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280121 Expanding knowledge in psychology @ 70%
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