Self and Identity: Understanding the Self

Self and Identity

• Self and Identity are not the same
• Identity is the distinguishing character or personality of an individual
• Self is the entire personhood of the individual

The Johari Window

• The Johari Window is a model for understanding self-disclosure and how we learn about ourselves
• The model has four quadrants:
  • Open: Known to both yourself and others
  • Blind Spot: Unknown to you, but known to others
  • Hidden: Known to you, but not to others
  • Unknown: Unknown to both you and others

Discovering the Self

• There are philosophical, psychological, and scientific perspectives to understanding the self

Socrates

• Socrates is considered the father of Western philosophy
• He believed that an unexamined life is not worth living
• He taught us the importance of introspection by applying the Socratic method
• The Socratic method encourages skepticism and critical thinking to gain self-knowledge

Plato

• Plato was a student of Socrates
• He believed the self is an immortal soul that has three parts:
  • Reason: Divine essence enabling thought, wise choices, and true understanding
  • Spirit or Passion: Basic emotions like love, anger, ambition, aggression, and empathy
  • Physical Appetite: Basic biological needs like hunger, thirst, and sexual desire

Aristotle

• Aristotle was a student of Plato
• He believed the soul is the essence of the self
• He argued body and soul are not separate entities

The Allegory of the Cave

• Plato used the Allegory of the Cave to show the difference between true knowledge and opinion
• It illustrates how people who are trapped in a cave and only see shadows on the wall think they are seeing reality
• When someone escapes the cave and sees the true world, it represents enlightenment and the pursuit of true knowledge