Two environmental groups were analyzed in their usage of story telling as a tool for mediating identity formation and facilitating behavioral change of members. The structure and function of their stories are compared with those of a previously documented group, Alcoholics Anonymous. Comparisons of story structure and function in these groups and the resulting entrance into the figured world of the nondrinking alcoholic or that of the active environmentalist illustrate the role stories can play in developing identity and motivating people to action. In one environmental group, members take political actions; in the other, they change their own consumption patterns. The members' self-described identities and the actions taken are consistent with their respective group's goals and stories.
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