William James and the Selves

• These are theorists and concepts related to self-perception, agency, and social comparison.

William James: Me-Self and I-Self

• Born William James on January 11, 1842, in New York City and died August 26, 1910, in Chocorua, New Hampshire
• William James was a philosopher and psychologist known as the "Father of American Psychology."
• Initially pursued painting and then shifted to scientific studies, earning his medical degree from Harvard in 1869.
• James became a professor at Harvard, teaching psychology and philosophy
• The Me-Self is the self as an object of perception ("Empirical Self")
• Three components of the "Me-Self"
  • Material Self: Tangible possessions and relationships (body, clothes, house, family).
  • Example of Material Self: "A man's self is the sum total of all that he can call his, not only his body and psychic powers, but his clothes and house, his wife and children, his ancestors and friends, his reputation and works, his lands and horses, and yacht bank-account." (James, 1890)
  • Social Self: How one is perceived and validated by others.
  • Example of Social Self: The instinctive desire to be recognized and validated by society shapes social roles and interactions
  • Spiritual Self: Inner thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and values.
  • Example of Spiritual Self: Represents inner sense of purpose and moral values
• The I-Self is the active agent that experiences and interacts with the world (subjective self).
• Promotes self-awareness, guides personal growth, and strengthens relationships

Carl Rogers: Humanistic Self

• Born Carl Rogers on January 8, 1902, in Oak Park, Illinois, USA and died February 4, 1987, in La Jolla, California
• Rogers was a pioneer of humanistic psychology.
• Studied agriculture and religion before shifting to psychology, earning his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1931.
• Known for developing client-centered therapy and contributions to education and personal development.
• Self-Concept: How one perceives oneself, with two components
  • Ideal Self: Aspirational self, influenced by goals and societal expectations
  • Real Self: Current self, shaped by experiences
• Congruence: Alignment between real and ideal selves, leads to harmony
• Incongruence: Misalignment equals stress or discomfort
  • Example of Incongruence: A person desiring to be confident but viewing themselves as insecure experiences incongruence, leading to stress
• Unconditional Positive Regard: Acceptance without judgment fosters a healthy self-concept
• Actualizing Tendency: An innate drive to grow and achieve potential.
• Applications: Foundational in client-centered therapy and education

Sigmund Freud: Id, Ego, and Superego

• Born Sigmund Freud on May 6, 1856, in Freiberg, Moravia (now Příbor, Czech Republic) and died September 23, 1939, in London, England.
• Freud was a neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis.
• He studied medicine at the University of Vienna and specialized in neurology.
• Revolutionized psychology with concepts like the unconscious, defense mechanisms, and psychosexual development.
• Id: Instinctual and pleasure-seeking part of the psyche
  • Example of Id: A hungry child crying for food without understanding they must wait
• Ego: Rational mediator between Id and reality.
  • Example of Ego: Feeling hungry but waiting until lunchtime
• Superego: Moral conscience shaped by societal rules and values
  • Example of Superego: Feeling guilty for lying, even if no one finds out.
• Interaction: Balancing these elements ensures psychological stability; imbalances lead to distress.

Murray Bowen: Differentiated Self

• Born Murray Bowen on January 31, 1913, in Waverly, Tennessee and died in 1990
• Bowen a psychiatrist and pioneer in family systems theory.
• Earned his medical degree from the University of Tennessee and served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
• Conducted research on family therapy and founded the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family
• Well-Differentiated Self: Maintains identity while staying emotionally connected to others
  • Example: Listening to differing opinions without feeling threatened and expressing one's viewpoints calmly.
• Poorly Differentiated Self: Relies heavily on others for approval and struggles with independence
  • Example: Someone overly dependent on others' validation may conform to avoid conflict, leading to heightened anxiety.
• Promotes emotional stability, effective stress management, and healthier relationships.

Edward Tory Higgins: Self-Discrepancy Theory

• Born on Edward Tory Higgins, March 18, 1945
• Higgins is a psychologist specializing in social and cognitive psychology.
• Earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University and serves as a professor at Columbia University.
• Known for theories like self-discrepancy and regulatory focus.
• Three Components of Self:
  • Actual Self: Current attributes and behaviors
  • Ideal Self: Aspirations and desires
  • Ought Self: Duties and societal expectations
• Discrepancies can occur between these resulting in:
  • Actual vs. Ideal: Leads to sadness or disappointment
  • Actual vs. Ought: Leads to guilt or anxiety

Regulatory Focus Theory:

• Promotion Focus: Aspiration-driven motivation
• Prevention Focus: Duty-driven motivation
  • Example: A student with a promotion focus aims to excel academically, while one with a prevention focus avoids failing.
• Applications: Understanding motivation, emotional well-being, and behavior in therapy and education.

D.W. Winnicott: True Self and False Self

• Born Donald Woods Winnicott on April 7, 1896, in Plymouth, England and died January 25, 1971
• Winnicott was a pediatrician and psychoanalyst.
• Focused on child development and introduced concepts like True Self and False Self.
• True Self: Authentic, spontaneous self, supported by consistent caregiving
  • Example: A child encouraged to express both positive and negative emotions grows up feeling secure and authentic.
• False Self: Protective facade developed to meet external expectations
  • A person always acting cheerful in public, even while struggling emotionally, relies on their False Self.
• Balancing both ensures emotional well-being; dominance of False Self can lead to inauthenticity and distress.

Albert Bandura: Self as Proactive and Agentic

• Born Albert Bandura on December 4, 1925, in Mundare, Alberta, Canada and died July 26, 2021
• Bandura a psychologist known for social cognitive theory.
• Studied at the University of British Columbia and earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Iowa
• Core Features of Human Agency:
  • Intentionality: Goal-setting and deliberate action
  • Example: A person committing to a workout routine to achieve fitness goals.
  • Forethought: Planning and anticipating outcomes.
  • Example: A student sets a study schedule to prepare for exams.
  • Self-reactiveness: Monitoring progress and making adjustments.
  • Example: Regularly checking expenses to save money effectively.
  • Self-reflectiveness: Analyzing decisions and learning from experiences.
  • Example: Reflecting on project feedback to improve future performance.
• Self-Efficacy: Confidence in one's ability to succeed
  • Example: A student who believes in their abilities perseveres after failing an exam.
• Proactive Self: Anticipates and prepares for challenges.
• Agentic Self: Shapes personality and future goals.
• People actively influence their environment and take control of their lives.

Social Awareness and Social Comparison

• Social Awareness
  • Recognizing emotions and motivations in others.
  • Empathy and perspective-taking foster better relationships
  • Cultural awareness ensures respectful and inclusive interactions
    • In Filipino settings, using honorifics like “po” and "opo” shows cultural sensitivity.
• Social Comparison (Festinger's Theory):
  • Upward Comparison: Inspires improvement but may lead to envy
    • Example: Comparing grades with a high achiever can motivate better study habits.
  • Downward Comparison: Boosts self-esteem but risks complacency
    • Example: Feeling pride in one's job position when comparing to an unemployed individual.
  • Lateral Comparison: Provides validation and shared experiences
    • Example: A new employee finding reassurance in another newcomer's struggles.
• Applications: Understanding emotional responses, self-esteem, and social behavior.
• Concepts like congruence (Rogers) and self-discrepancy (Higgins) help resolve internal conflicts during therapy

Applications and Reflections

• Encouraging growth mindsets and self-awareness supports student development through education
• Differentiation (Bowen) and agency (Bandura) highlight paths to self-improvement and emotional resilience through personal development

Key Takeaways

• Psychological perspectives provide a comprehensive understanding of self-concept and identity
• Awareness of these theories can guide personal growth, improve relationships, and foster emotional well-being
• Balancing internal self-perception with external societal roles is key to achieving a fulfilling and authentic life.