Critique of Dialogical Self Theory

Dialogical Self Theory (DST) is gaining popularity in the social sciences, especially psychology. It offers a new perspective on personality, proposing to conceive self as a multiplicity of positions among which dialogical relationships can be established. It also has significant implications for psychological health and therapeutic practice. DST is difficult to integrate with the theories and ideas of mainstream psychology, however. Based on discussions with students and colleagues, the author of this paper constructed a critique of DST from various psychological perspectives; the most frequently encountered objections to the theory are discussed, such as: devaluation of the idea of personality integration; devaluation of the idea of dispositions; discrepancy with popular feelings; the elevationist fallacy; the reductionist fallacy; anti-realism; diffusion of the boundaries of the self; weak empirical support; political bias; and the questionable model of mental health and methods of psychotherapy based on this model. Each critique is followed by a counter-critique in defense of the theory.