Self-interpretation
Self-interpretation refers to the process by which people make sense of their own behavior, experiences, and reactions.
It's not about what someone actually experiences, but how they experience it and what they deduce about themselves from it.
Self-interpretation forms the bridge between experience and identity.
Deepening
When people act, they implicitly draw conclusions from it.
Not only about the situation, but especially about himself.
Examples:
I withdrew, so apparently I don't really belong here.
I took the lead, so I have to stay strong.
I felt tension, so I can't handle this.
These conclusions often arise unconsciously.
They become part of the narrative that someone develops about who they are and what feels safe.
Self-interpretation differs from reflection.
Reflection is conscious.
Self-interpretation is usually implicit and automatic.
In many psychological approaches, behavior is seen as a result of beliefs.
Within INR, behavior is also viewed as a source of self-interpretation.
What someone does influences how they see themselves.
Relationship to INR
Self-interpretation plays a central role within the Narrative layer of the INR Model.
Inner needs determine sensitivity.
Experience determines context.
Self-interpretation determines meaning.
When basic needs are structurally under pressure, self-interpretation arises that makes protection logical.
This way, for example, someone can come to believe:
I have to do it alone.
I always have to perform.
I have to adapt to fit in.
These interpretations form the basis for the personal narrative.
INR integrates self-interpretation into behavioral architecture by demonstrating how meaning-making stabilizes behavior over time.
Self-interpretation is therefore not a standalone theory, but a functional link within the model.