The Narrative Self and the Minimal Self

The aim of the chapter is to provide a detailed introduction to the multidimensional analysis of the self. The chapter examines the contrast between the narrative self and the minimal self and compares Peter Goldie’s and Maria Schechtman’s views on the constitution and the nature of the narrative self. The chapter also examines the developmental perspectives on the emergence of the narrative self. The chapter shows that the concept of implicit narrative reflects the influence of psychoanalysis in the characterization of the narrative self. Finally, following this line of argument, the problems of the affective unconscious and the affective core self are introduced and compared to the minimal self.