Theoretical Perspectives on the Minimal and Narrative Self in the Schizophrenia Spectrum
An Integrative Review
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22430243 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Florestan Delcourt (0009-0001-0465-5659, Université Paris Cité, corresponding author), Henry R Cowan (0000-0001-9891-6903, Michigan State University), Jordan Sibeoni (0000-0001-9613-5513, Inserm), Mélissa C Allé (0000-0002-4120-7417, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), Andreas C R Rasmussen (Amager Hospital), Rosa Ritunnano (0000-0002-7967-5830, University of Birmingham), Anne Giersch (0000-0002-8577-6021, Inserm), Fabian Lo Monte (0000-0002-3539-0868, Université Libre de Bruxelles), Jérôme Englebert (0000-0001-7240-0044, Université Libre de Bruxelles), Bernard Pachoud (0009-0009-1653-8896, Université Paris Cité) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | e70023-e70023 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | WIREs Cognitive Science (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1939-5078 • E-ISSN: 1939-5086 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1002/wcs.70023 |
| PMID | 41699205 |
| OpenAlex | W7129278515 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 154 |
The self and its disorders in schizophrenia have been studied extensively over recent decades. Much of this literature is grounded in a bipartite understanding of the self, distinguishing the pre‐reflective, minimal self from the reflective, narrative self. However, few studies have systematically examined the links between disturbances at these two levels of self. This integrative review addresses this gap by analyzing both theoretical and empirical contributions. Three theoretical models are described. The Structural model posits that minimal self‐disorders hierarchically give rise to narrative self‐disturbances and the schizophrenia phenotype, with a primarily pathogenic focus. The Dialectical model emphasizes reciprocal interactions between minimal and narrative self‐disturbances, generating the schizophrenia phenotype with both pathogenic and salutogenic implications. The Contextual model highlights social, territorial, and biological dimensions of the self and its disorders in context. Empirical studies specifically addressing the mechanistic links between minimal and narrative self‐disturbances remain scarce and preliminary. Overall, the literature appears preliminary and occasionally speculative, yet it suggests several promising avenues for future research and clinically relevant applications. This article is categorized under: Philosophy > Consciousness Psychology > Theory and Methods
Dialectic · Empirical research · Narrative · Narrative review · Reciprocal · Schizophrenia research · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Mental Health and Psychiatry · Schizophrenia research and treatment
The Self
A Pattern Theory of Self
Ease
Schizophrenia, Consciousness, and the Self
Selves Creating Stories Creating Selves
Narrative Identity
Conceptual framework for personal recovery in mental health
The Oxford Handbook of Phenomenological Psychopathology
The Oxford Handbook of the Self
A socio-ecological approach of evidence on associations between social environmental factors and mental health outcomes of young adults
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Cracks in the pattern
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Impact of minimal self disorders on naturalistic episodic memory in first-episode psychosis and parallels in healthy individuals with schizotypal traits
Psychosis and the challenges to narrative identity and the good life
Between Minimal Self and Narrative Self
Overcoming Hermeneutical Injustice in Mental Health
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |