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Bestselling Selves: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Self-Help Literature

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Whole thesis(3.22 MB)

Date

2005

Authors

Supervisor

Nelson, Frances

Item type

Thesis

Degree name

Master of Arts (Communication Studies)

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Auckland University of Technology

Abstract

In this thesis, I view self-help as a discourse widely present in modern society in different forms such as literature, audio tapes, CDs, videos, and personal activities like workshops and individual coaching. From books to life-coaching service providers, the discourse increasingly encompasses creative techniques in order to expand and involve different aspect of life. I take a critical look at the reflection of the discourse in self-help books using Dryzek’s (1997) model of discourse analysis which divides discourse in general into four levels: ontology, assumptions about natural relationships, agents and their motives, and finally, metaphors and other rhetorical devices.

Description

Keywords

Self-actualization (Psychology); Self-help techniques; Self-techniques -- Evaluation; Psychological literature -- Evaluation

Source

DOI

Publisher's version

Rights statement

Permanent link

https://hdl.handle.net/10292/12134

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Masters Theses