Historical Views of the Self

Historical Views of the Self

• The self became less tied to religion after the 1500s, with the Protestant Reformation emphasizing earthly fulfillment over an afterlife.
• Martin Luther challenged the Catholic Church, suggesting faith, not actions, led to salvation.
• Luther's translation of the Bible into German, made on a printing press, democratized religious understanding.

The Enlightenment (1600-1815)

• This period promoted a more scientific and accurate understanding of the world and ourselves.
• Existing beliefs, including religion, monarchy, and slavery, were questioned.
• Political change, like the American and French revolutions, and the pursuit of civil rights and liberties emerged.

UK Industrial Revolution (1750-1900)

• The shift from agriculture to industrial work increased living standards, life expectancy, and education levels.
• Self-reliance and individualism increased alongside movements like feminism, labor unions and the rise of communism.

Unconscious Mind & Psychoanalysis (1856-1936)

• This period marked a breakthrough in understanding the self psychologically.
• Freud's concept of unconscious drives, development of talking therapies, and consideration of childhood trauma laid groundwork for self-psychology.
• Complete self-knowledge was considered impossible.

Individuals Who Shaped the Idea of "Self"

• Mary Wollstonecraft: A pioneer of human rights, she advocated for women's education and challenged gender roles.
• Charles Darwin: Darwin's theories of natural selection and sexual selection challenged the human-animal divide and our species' origins.
• Sigmund Freud: Proposed that the human mind has an Id (unconscious desires), Ego (reasoning), and Superego (conscience), shaping personal perceptions and behavior.
• Carl Jung: Developed the concept of "persona," a mask we present to others, distinct from our true self. Jung also detailed the shadow self, and explored introversion and extraversion as personality traits.

Philosophy of Self - Dan Dennett

• The self is a complex narrative construct formed from memories, thoughts, and preferences.
• The authenticity of the self and its nature as an illusion are questioned.

Development of the Self

• Phylogenetics (Evolutionary History of the Self):
  • The Gallup mirror test (dot on animal's head and mirror) was used to measure self-awareness, with results indicating varying levels across species.
  • Chimpanzees demonstrated self-recognition, while lower primates did not.
• Ontofenetic (Individual Development of the Self):
  • Rochat's stages (0-5) detail infant development, from obliviousness to self-awareness, culminating in self-conscious self-recognition.
• Jung's Adult Self-Awareness Development: During adolescents, individuals figure out their identity and understand their persona, ego, and shadow self.
• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: This model illustrates the progression of needs, from basic physiological needs to self-actualization.
• Ikigai: This Japanese concept connects "reasons for living," "self-actualization," and "purpose of life."

Culture and the Self

• Different cultures have diverse views of self, others, and their interconnectedness.
• Independent vs. interdependent selves: Cultural variation exists in defining the self as independent or interdependent on others.
  • Contrasting cultural perspectives on self-representation were observed in media language analysis comparing American and Japanese athletes.

Modern Study of the Self

• fMRI Studies and Self-Referential Processing: Neuroimaging (fMRI) was used to research self-referential processing and related brain regions.
• Facebook and Well-being: Facebook use, rather than direct social interaction, predicted lower mood and life satisfaction over time.
• Drugs and the Self: Psychedelics can evoke feelings of interconnectedness and ego dissolution.