本研究是以沈從文的心理傳記為例來呈現在歷史及社會文化脈絡中個人主體性的建構。本研究使用沈氏不同時期的自我敘述為主軸,並援用Erik H. Erikson的自我認同概念來看沈氏的生命發展,以此敘說呈現出沈氏如何和特定的歷史及社會文化互動而建構出理解中的自我,展現出個人的主體性及其核心關懷。從沈從文的生命故事看來,生命發展的動力來自深層價值觀的建立,而不能只停留在職業上或身份上的認同。本文將此生命故事放在Kenneth J. Gergen與Mary M. Gergen的故事型態觀點,並從D. P. McAdams的認同宛如生命故事觀點、杜維明的儒家自我與他人關係取向觀點、以及許烺光的文化觀點,提出此生命故事在中國社會脈絡下的文化意涵。
This study attempts to use the psychobiography of Shen Ts'ung-Wen as an example to elucidate the construction of individuals' subjectivity in the historical and sociocultural context. E. H. Erikson's concept of self-identity is applied to compose the self-narratives of Shen in different life periods. These self-narratives show how an individual's subjectivity reveals itself through a dialog between himself and the sociocultural context. The story enlightens that the powerful dynamics of life is derived from profound value systems in culture. Examining this psychobiography in terms of K. J. Gergen & M. M. Gergen's, D. P. McAdams', W. M. Tu's and F. L. K. Hsu's theories also provides cultural understandings of the Chinese society.