Transformation within a Dialogical Self

Psychological Transformation (PT) is the aim of all applied areas of psychology. However, the concept of PT has remained ineffable and inconsistent. This Keynote aims to model and unpack the concept of PT and create a taxonomy of transformation. To do so, I review different psychological approaches to transformation, from Freud (1933) to Hermans (2023). Then, building on multiple selves theories (Horney, 1933; Markus & Nurios, 1987, Ogilvie, 1979) and specifically the Dialogical Self theory (Hermans, 1996, 2012), I propose the hierarchy (structure) of the self is stratified according to a desirability ranking ranging from desired to undesired selves. This hierarchical structure creates the basis for delineating Seven discrete Transformation Pathways (TP), which include: Validating I-positions, Updating I-position valence, Linking opposite I-positions, Integrating I-positions into a new third I-position, forming a Promoter I-position, creating local and global Meta-positions, and Co-transformation—A dyadic updating of I-positions. Each TP is defined, reviewed, and accompanied by an example and an iconographic description. The TP taxonomy can contribute to all applied areas of psychology that directly or indirectly lead to transformation, as it (a) helps unpack the concept of transformation, and therefore render it more accessible across psychological theories and methods, (b) allows research and assessment of different TPs, (c) can promote TP-specific therapeutic interventions, and the empirical testing of these interventions, (d) enables a better understanding the boundary conditions of each TP, and in general, (e) helps bridge the gap between the art of transformation and the science of psychology.