Sociology: Self Development Theories

Mead's Theory of Self Development

• Mead emphasizes three stages of self-development:
  • Pre-Play Stage: Children learn to imitate the actions of specific others.
  • Play Stage: Children engage in role-taking, understanding symbols, and communicating through them.
  • Game Stage: Children learn to consider the perspectives of multiple individuals.
• This theory suggests that social interaction plays a crucial role in shaping how individuals understand themselves and their place in society.

Goffman's Theory of Self Presentation

• Goffman's theory highlights the performance of self in social life.
• Front stage is the public persona we adopt in social settings, while backstage is our private identity.
• This theory emphasizes the importance of social context and how our behaviors shift to meet social expectations.

Agents of Socialization

• Agents of socialization are individuals or groups that shape our self-concept, attitudes, and behaviors.
• The roles of families, schools, peers, the media, and social institutions influence how we understand the world and ourselves.

Self-Concept - Western vs. Eastern Perspectives

• Western Perspective
  • The self is an individual entity, independent and unique, separate from the external world.
  • The goal is to foster personal growth and fulfillment.
• Eastern Perspective
  • The self is connected and interdependent with others and the surrounding world, often viewing the self as an illusion.
  • The focus is on achieving enlightenment and liberation from suffering.

The Psychological Perspective of the Self

• William James proposed the concept of self, including:
  • The Me-Self: The self as an object of observation.
  • The I-Self: The self as a subject of experiences.
• Carl Rogers' Self Theory emphasizes the importance of congruence between our ideal self and our real self, which, if incongruent, can lead to distress.
• Bandura's Human Agency Theory highlights the individual's capacity to influence their own functioning through intentionality, forethought, self-reactiveness, and self-reflectiveness.

Self-Efficacy

• Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their ability to accomplish a task.
• Positive self-efficacy fosters a sense of optimism and self-enhancement, conversely, negative self-efficacy can lead to self-doubt and self-hindering behaviors.

The Psychoanalytic Theory of the Self

• Proposed by Sigmund Freud, the theory focuses on three major components of the psyche:
  • ID: The most primitive and instinctual part of the psyche, driven by the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of basic needs.
  • EGO: Operates on the reality principle, finding realistic ways for the ID to find satisfaction.
  • SUPEREGO: The ethical and moral component that internalizes social and cultural norms, acting as a conscience.

Defense Mechanisms

• Defense mechanisms are subconscious strategies used to cope with anxiety and protect the ego.
• Examples of defense mechanisms include:
  • Repression: Pushing unwanted thoughts or feelings into the subconscious.
  • Projection: Attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to others.
  • Rationalization: Creating justifiable explanations for behaviors or feelings.
  • Denial: Refusal to acknowledge reality.

The Big Five Personality Traits

• The Big Five Personality Traits provide a framework for understanding an individual's personality.
• The traits are:
  • Openness to Experience: The willingness to explore new ideas and experiences.
  • Conscientiousness: A strong desire to be diligent and well-organized.
  • Extroversion: A preference for social interactions and being outgoing.
  • Agreeableness: A personality style characterized by cooperation and compassion.
  • Neuroticism: Proneness to experience negative emotions like anxiety and insecurity.

Jung’s Self Concept

• Jung proposed that the self is the center of the psyche, uniting the conscious and unconscious mind.
• This concept includes the anima (feminine archetype in men) and animus (masculine archetype in women), both vital for a complete psyche.
• The self archetype represents the integration of the conscious and unconscious minds, striving for wholeness.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

• Maslow's theory proposes a hierarchical system of human needs, with the most basic needs at the bottom and the most complex at the top.
• The hierarchy starts with:
  • Physiological Needs: Basic survival needs such as food, water, and shelter.
  • Safety Needs: The need for security, stability, and safety from harm.
  • Social Needs: The need for belongingness, love, and social connections.
  • Esteem Needs: The need for self-esteem, confidence, and respect from others.
  • Self-Actualization: The highest level of needs, striving for personal growth, creativity, and fulfilling one's potential.
• Maslow emphasized that lower-level needs must be fulfilled before higher-level needs can be addressed.