Bibliographic details and abstracts are available to all. Downloads of full-text dissertations are restricted to University of Portsmouth members who must login. MPhils may be accessed by all.

Abstract

This study investigates Lance Armstrong’s 2013 confession interview with Oprah Winfrey. Specifically focusing on Armstrong’s language choices and how he presents himself throughout the interview. In this pivotal discussion, Armstrong finally confesses to using performance-enhancing drugs during all seven of his Tour de France victories. A Discursive Psychology approach has been applied in the analysis of this research, focusing on the devices found in Armstrong’s discourse. This framework has been selected because it examines how people manage psychological notions, treats discourse as an object, and considers the impact of interactional context on discourse. The main aims of this research are to explore how Armstrong uses discursive devices in his confession interview, considering the links between Discursive Psychology and the themes of mitigating accountability and portraying himself as a victim. This analysis focused on specific language choices, patterns of discourse, and narrative strategies Armstrong used to address his past doping activities and present himself to the public. By examining these elements, the study aimed to uncover the key themes and techniques Armstrong employed in his attempt to explain, justify, or apologise for his actions. The collected data was instrumental in exploring how high-profile figures approach the challenge of confessing wrongdoing and the implications for their personal and public image. This research indicates that Armstrong's discourse was strategically crafted, suggesting that he was not solely accountable for his actions and that he was merely a product of his environment, often shifting blame onto others. By using this approach, Armstrong attempted to distribute responsibility across a broader context, minimising his personal culpability while framing his behaviour as a consequence of prevailing norms within the cycling world.

Course: English Language and Linguistics - BA - C2742S

Date Deposited: 2024-10-23

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis14464.html