LGBTQ plus College Student Experiences of Loss and Reconciliation of the Assumptive World during LGBTQ plus Identity Development

LGBTQ+ individuals navigate oppressive systems that elicit ambiguous losses of identity, safety, and security, particularly during LGBTQ+ identity development in college. The assumptive world, or one's internal world guiding beliefs and actions, is challenged when such loss occurs. This study examined LGBTQ+ college student narratives of loss during identity development to understand how assumptive worlds evolved. Findings from a narrative analysis yielded three themes: (1) "Everybody has an expectation:" Reflecting on norms and stereotypes; (2) "This one thing that makes everything flip:" Shattering events; and (3) "Shake it upside down:" Rebuilding the assumptive world. Implications for practice and research are provided.