Developmental autoethnography (DAE) in theory and practice

This article introduces a novel approach within the autoethnographic landscape, 'developmental autoethnography' (DAE), presently aimed as a complementary tool in therapy using ThePosAE. While ThePosAE has its purpose towards the future, DAE is intended as an archaeological method, which goes backwards, layer by layer, in order to examine why certain senses and feelings are still present in later life, although they may have their origin in childhood. The <i>practical part</i> of DAE is borrowed from narrative autoethnography (AE), i.e. writing one's story, either alone or together with a therapist or a teacher. The <i>theoretical part</i> rests on psychology and neurophysiology and emphasizes the importance of incorporating developmental factors in AE. In order to visualise how the practical part of DAE can be used, I have started the article by writing a short story about my own feelings as an adult and then speculated on their possible connections to my early life. Thereafter, I have presented a theoretical framework intended to give foremost therapists a deeper understanding of the importance of psychological- and neurodevelopmental factors when guiding me or another client forward towards a positive future.