The Use of Identity Structure Modeling to Examine the Central Role of Musical Experience Within the Self-concept of a Young Woman With Physical Disabilities

• Published in: Music therapy perspectives Vol. 18; no. 2; pp. 115 - 121
• Main Authors: Clarkson, Amy L., Robey, Kenneth L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford American Music Therapy Association 2000; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Identity; Music Therapy; Physical Disabilities
• ISSN: 0734-6875; 2053-7387
• DOI: 10.1093/mtp/18.2.115

Abstract
This paper illustrates the usefulness of a methodology for organizing self-reported qualitative information in examining the degree to which the roles of composer and music listener are central to the self-concept of a young woman with severe physical disabilities who lives in an institutional setting. Identity structure modeling involves a process whereby client-generated information is used to arrive at a graphical depiction of how a person's perceived roles or identities are interrelated. For the client who participated in this study, the roles of “music listener” and “composer” appear in her identity structure as superordinate identities. The identity structure model suggests that for this client, experiences of music listening and composition are among those that most fully encompass varied aspects of her self concept in that they provide a means to express positive and negative emotions, to work hard at a meaningful task, to help others to know what she thinks and feels, and to feel pride in her creative abilities.