Understanding the Psychological Self

Understanding the Self

• The Psychological Self is about how we perceive ourselves, our values, and our place in the world.
• It encompasses our self-concept, self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-identity, and self-awareness.

Self-Concept

• Our self-concept is how we view ourselves. It includes:
  • Self-image (how we see ourselves)
  • Self-esteem (how we feel about ourselves)
  • Ideal self (who we want to be)

Self-Esteem

• It's our overall sense of worth and value.
• High self-esteem is linked to resilience, while low self-esteem can lead to mental health issues.

Self-Efficacy

• It's the belief in our ability to succeed in specific situations or tasks.
• Introduced by Albert Bandura, it influences our motivation and perseverance.

Self-Identity

• It's how we define ourselves in the context of our social groups, roles, and life experiences.
• Identity development is crucial during adolescence but continues throughout life.

Self-Awareness

• It's the ability to recognize our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
• Essential for personal growth, emotional intelligence, and effective communication.

Freud's Theory of the Self

• Freud believed that much of our behavior is driven by unconscious motives from early childhood.

The Structure of Personality

• Id: The primal, instinctive part of the self, driven by immediate gratification (e.g., hunger, sexual desire). It's entirely unconscious and irrational.
• Ego: The rational part of the self, mediates between the id's demands and reality. It's partly conscious and partly unconscious.
• Superego: Represents internalized morals and ethics. It judges the ego's actions based on societal standards. It's largely unconscious.

The Levels of Consciousness

• Conscious: Thoughts and feelings we are currently aware of.
• Preconscious: Memories we can easily access when needed.
• Unconscious: Repressed memories, instincts, and desires that influence our behavior in unconscious ways.

Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Development

• Erikson's theory outlines eight stages of psychosocial development, each with a specific crisis to resolve.

Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development

• Trust vs. Mistrust: (0-1 year) Developing trust in caregivers.
• Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt: (1-3 years) Developing self-reliance.
• Initiative vs. Guilt: (3-6 years) Developing initiative and purpose.
• Industry vs. Inferiority: (6-12 years) Developing a sense of competence.
• Identity vs. Role Confusion: (12-18 years) Developing a sense of self and identity.
• Intimacy vs. Isolation: (18-40 years) Developing intimate relationships.
• Generativity vs. Stagnation: (40-65 years) Developing a sense of contribution to the world.
• Integrity vs. Despair: (65+ years) Reflecting on life with a sense of fulfillment.

Carl Rogers' Self Theory

• Focuses on the "real self" (who we truly are) and the "ideal self" (who we want to be).
• Congruence between the two leads to higher self-esteem and well-being. Incongruence leads to anxiety and distress.

Albert Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory

• Emphasizes observational learning, self-efficacy, and self-regulation in shaping the self.
• We learn through observing others and the consequences of our own actions.

Michael Lewis's Self-Recognition Theory

• Focuses on the development of self-awareness, especially self-recognition in a mirror (around 18 months old).
• This marks the beginning of self-concept development.

Higgins' Self-Discrepancy Theory

• Examines the gap between our actual self, ideal self, and ought self (who we believe we should be).
• Discrepancies between these selves can lead to emotional distress.