Psychological Perspectives Of The Self PDF

PERSPECTIVES OF THE What is psychology? Psychology is the study of human behavior and mental processes.​ 4 goals of psychology? Describe – what the person is doing.​ Explain - why is s/he doing that?​ Predict - what is s/he going to do?​ Modify – how can we change the behavio...

PERSPECTIVES OF THE What is psychology? Psychology is the study of human behavior and mental processes.​ 4 goals of psychology? Describe – what the person is doing.​ Explain - why is s/he doing that?​ Predict - what is s/he going to do?​ Modify – how can we change the behavior?​  Psychology is concerned with: How individuals develop and mature at different life stages. Concepts such as consciousness, memory, and reasoning. ​ How the individual and his environment shape his personality. How we think, behave and feel in certain situations.​ Mental health and mental illnesses, character strengths, coping, happiness, and well-being.​ William James (Me-Self & I-Self) William James is considered to be one of the most prolific psychologists and philosophers of the 20th century - a figure commonly known as 'the father of American psychology.'​ -Self (Pure Ego) The "I" part of self was the thinking self, which could not be further divided. He linked this part of the self to the soul of a person, or what is now thought of as the mind. The "I" is the self that knows who they are and what they have done in their life.  -Self (Empirical Me) The "Me" can be thought of as a separate object or individual a person refers to when describing their personal experiences. James further divided the "Me" part of self into: a material, a social, and a spiritual self.  Dimensions of the ME Self Material Self- consists of things that belong to us or that we belong to (e.g family, clothes, body, money) ​ Social Self- who we are in a given social situation. For James, people change how they act depending on the social situation that they are in.  ​  Dimensions of the ME Self Spiritual Self- who we are at the core. The spiritual self is more concrete and permanent than the other two selves. The spiritual self is our subjective and most intimate self. (e.g personality, core values and conscience) Carl Rogers (Self-Actualization) Carl Rogers (1902-1987) was a humanistic psychologist best known for his views on the therapeutic relationship and his theories of personality and self-actualization. Carl Rogers (Self-Actualization) According to Rogers (1967), the human organism has an underlying “actualizing tendency”, which aims to develop all capacities in ways that maintain or enhance the organism and move it toward autonomy. Carl Rogers (Self-Actualization) The basic idea of self- actualization is straightforward. It is a desire present in all living things that pushes the organism toward growth. In the case of humans, we all want to express ourselves creatively and reach our full potential. Categories of the Self Real Self - indicates what someone is in real life. Ideal Self - what someone wants to become in his life. Carl Rogers (Self-Actualization) Rogers focused on the idea that we need to achieve consistency between these two selves. We experience congruence when our thoughts about our real self and ideal self are very similar—in other words, when our self-concept is accurate. High congruence leads to a greater sense of self-worth and a healthy, productive life. Carl Rogers (Self-Actualization) According to Rogers, people could only self-actualize if they had a positive self-view. This can only happen if they have unconditional positive regard from others – if they feel valued and respected without reservation by those around them (especially their parents when they were children). Carl Rogers (Self-Actualization) When people are raised in an environment of conditional positive regard. They must match or achieve those conditions in order to receive the love or positive regard they yearn for. Their ideal self is thereby determined by others based on these conditions, and they are forced to develop outside of their own true actualizing tendency; this contributes to incongruence and a greater gap between the real self and the ideal self. Albert Bandura(Human Agency) Albert Bandura was an influential social cognitive psychologist who was perhaps best known for his social learning theory, the concept of self-efficacy, human agency, and his famous Bobo doll experiments. Until his death on July 26, 2021, he was a Professor Emeritus at Stanford University and was widely regarded as one of the most influential psychologists in history. Albert Bandura(Human Agency) Bandura (2009a) defined human agency as “the human capability to exert influence over one’s functioning and the course of events by one’s actions”. “Through cognitive self-guidance, humans can visualize futures that act on the present; construct, evaluate, and modify alternative courses of action to gain valued outcomes; and override environmental influences”. “To be an agent is to influence intentionally one’s functioning and life circumstances”.  Core Properties of Human Agency Intentionality - refers to acts that we do intentionally, and you know already the possible outcome. for example, you decided to not sleep early, then you intentionally want to wake up late.​ Forethoughts - enables the person to anticipate of future outcomes. example you noticed that is raining, now you anticipate that the class might be suspended or not.​  Core Properties of Human Agency Self-reactiveness - involves making choices and choosing, motivating, and regulating appropriate courses of action One good example is during an examination you don’t know the answer, it is your decision if you want to copy from your classmate or not.​ Self-reflectiveness - gives us the ability to reflect on our lack of thoughts and actions. we are also self-examiners. we give time to our self to think about our experiences and decisions that we made​. Sigmund Freud(ID, Ego, & Superego) Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, was an Austrian physiologist, medical doctor, psychologist and influential thinker of the early twentieth century. Sigmund Freud(ID, Ego, & Superego) According to Sigmund Freud, human personality is complex and has more than a single element. In his famous psychoanalytic theory, Freud states that personality is composed of three elements known as the id, the ego, and the superego. These elements work together to create complex human behaviors.​  Elements of Personality The ID is the source of all psychic energy, making it the primary component of personality.​ The id is the only component of personality that is present from birth.​ This aspect of personality is entirely unconscious and includes instinctive and primitive behaviors.​ The id is driven by the pleasure principle, which strives for immediate gratification of all desires, wants, and needs.  Elements of Personality According to Freud, the EGO develops from the id and operates based on the reality principle, which strives to satisfy the id's desires in realistic and socially appropriate ways. The reality principle weighs the costs and benefits of an action before deciding to act upon or abandon impulses. The ego functions in the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious mind.  Elements of Personality In an attempt to maintain control over the id, the ego employs defense mechanisms, which are automatic, unconscious mental strategies or coping styles, utilized to reduce the anxiety and/or guilt associated with the situation or unresolved conflict, and protect the person from their own dangerous impulses, unacceptable behavior, and unpleasant thoughts or feelings. It also helps mitigate the threat to the individual’s self-esteem from the demands of the superego and reality. Some Defense Mechanisms of the EGO: 1. Repression: involves pushing painful or unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or memories into the unconscious mind. By keeping these aspects of the psyche out of conscious awareness, repression helps prevent anxiety associated with confronting them directly. However, repressed thoughts and emotions may still influence behavior indirectly. Repressed thoughts or emotions may resurface in dreams, slips of the tongue (Freudian slips), or through psychological symptoms. Some Defense Mechanisms of the EGO: 2. Denial: involves refusing to acknowledge the reality of a situation or the existence of a problem. It serves as a way to avoid the anxiety or discomfort associated with facing unpleasant truths. For example, someone diagnosed with a serious illness might deny the severity of their condition as a way to cope with the fear of illness and mortality. Some Defense Mechanisms of the EGO: 3. Projection: involves attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or impulses to others. By projecting these undesirable qualities onto others, individuals can avoid acknowledging them in themselves and maintain a more positive self-image. For instance, someone who harbors feelings of jealousy may accuse others of being jealous instead. Some Defense Mechanisms of the EGO: 4. Displacement: involves redirecting one's emotions or impulses from their original source toward a less threatening target. For example, someone who is angry with their boss may vent their frustration by arguing with their spouse or kicking a chair. Some Defense Mechanisms of the EGO: 5. Sublimation: involves channeling socially unacceptable impulses or desires into socially acceptable activities or pursuits. Rather than directly expressing or acting on their impulses, individuals channel them into productive or creative endeavors. For instance, someone with aggressive tendencies might channel their energy into competitive sports or artistic pursuits. Some Defense Mechanisms of the EGO: 6. Rationalization: involves creating logical or plausible explanations to justify or excuse one's thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. By rationalizing their actions, individuals can minimize feelings of guilt or anxiety associated with behavior that conflicts with their internal standards or values. For example, someone who cheats on a test might rationalize their behavior by telling themselves that everyone else does it too. Some Defense Mechanisms of the EGO: 7. Undoing: involves engaging in behaviors or rituals aimed at canceling out or negating a previous unacceptable thought, feeling, or action. For instance, someone who experiences guilt after having a negative thought about a loved one might engage in a series of rituals, such as counting or tapping, to "undo" the perceived harm caused by the thought. Some Defense Mechanisms of the EGO: 8. Regression: involves reverting to earlier, more primitive stages of psychological development in response to stress or anxiety. This may involve displaying behaviors characteristic of an earlier stage of childhood development, such as temper tantrums or clinging to caregivers, speaking in baby talk, and seeking comfort objects, like a stuffed animal or blanket, that they had previously outgrown. Regression provides temporary relief from anxiety but can hinder effective problem-solving.  Elements of Personality The SUPEREGO begins to emerge at around age five.​ The superego holds the internalized moral standards and ideals that we acquire from our parents and society (our sense of right and wrong).​ The superego provides guidelines for making judgments.​  Elements of Personality The superego has two parts:​ The conscience includes information about things that are viewed as bad by parents and society. These behaviors are often forbidden and lead to bad consequences, punishments, or feelings of guilt and remorse.​ The ego ideal includes the rules and standards for behaviors that the ego aspires to.​ Relationship Conflict Resolution: Id: During an argument with a partner, the id might impulsively want to retaliate with hurtful words or actions to assert dominance or alleviate frustration. Ego: The ego intervenes, recognizing the need to resolve the conflict constructively by communicating calmly and understanding the partner's perspective. Superego: The superego reinforces empathy and compassion, urging the individual to consider the impact of their words and actions on the relationship's well-being. Financial Decision-Making: Id: The id may urge impulsive spending on luxuries or indulgences, driven by immediate desires for pleasure and gratification. Ego: The ego evaluates the consequences of such spending in the context of financial responsibilities and long-term goals, balancing desires with practical considerations. Superego: The superego encourages responsible financial behavior, advocating for savings, budgeting, and investment to secure future stability and ensure financial well-being for oneself and potentially others. What happens if there is an imbalance?​ If the ego is able to adequately moderate between the demands of reality, the id, and the superego, a healthy and well-adjusted personality emerges. Freud believed that an imbalance between these elements would lead to a maladaptive personality. What happens if there is an imbalance?​ Dominant ID: If the ID were to dominate, the individual might act impulsively, seeking immediate gratification of desires without considering consequences or social norms. This could lead to impulsive behaviors, lack of impulse control, and potentially reckless or antisocial actions. What happens if there is an imbalance?​ Dominant Ego: An overly dominant ego might lead to excessive rationalization, suppression of emotions, or difficulty in expressing one's authentic desires. Dominant Superego: If the Superego were to dominate, the individual might exhibit perfectionistic and judgemental tendencies, high levels of guilt and self-criticism, and a strong adherence to moral standards. Gordon Allport (Trait Theory) Gordon Allport was an influential American psychologist. His significant work was foundational in shaping modern personality psychology, particularly through his development of theories on personality traits and his emphasis on the uniqueness of individuals. Gordon Allport (Trait Theory) Allport proposed a comprehensive theory of personality that emphasized the study of individual differences through traits. Traits are enduring dispositions that influence an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors across various situations and over time. His trait theory contributed significantly to our understanding of personality by highlighting the complexity and uniqueness of human behavior.  Levels of Traits Cardinal Traits: Cardinal traits are rare and pervasive dispositions that exert a dominating influence on a person's behavior. These traits are so fundamental to an individual's personality that they shape almost every aspect of their life and often define a person's identity and are evident in virtually all of their actions and behaviors. Example: Mother Teresa is strongly associated with goodness and kindness and Hitler can be associated with ruthlessness.​  Levels of Traits Central Traits: Central traits are general characteristics that make up the basic building blocks of an individual's personality. While not as all-encompassing as cardinal traits, central traits are still highly influential in shaping an individual's behavior across different situations. Example: You may be describe by your friends as "friendly," "conscientious," or "outgoing."  Levels of Traits Secondary Traits: Secondary traits are more specific and situational than cardinal or central traits. These traits are relatively less consistent and may only manifest in certain contexts or situations. Example: You might display a secondary trait of "nervousness during public speaking." Donald Woods Winnicott (True and False Self) Donald Woods Winnicott was a British pediatrician, psychoanalyst, and one of the most influential figures in developmental psychology and psychoanalysis. He made significant contributions to the understanding of child development, object relations theory, and the nature of the self. Donald Woods Winnicott (True and False Self) Winnicott proposed the True and False Self Theory, which describes how early caregiving experiences influence the development of the authentic self and the defensive persona. Donald Woods Winnicott (True and False Self) Winnicott believed that the self is a very important part of mental and emotional well- being. He thought that people were born without a clearly developed self and had to search for an authentic sense of self as they grew. For Winnicott, the sense of feeling real, feeling in touch with others and with one's own body and its processes was essential for living a life. Donald Woods Winnicott (True and False Self) According to Winnicott, the true self represents an individual's authentic and genuine sense of identity. It develops when an infant experiences consistent, empathic, and attuned caregiving from their primary caregiver, typically the mother. Donald Woods Winnicott (True and False Self) When a child feels accepted, understood, and valued by their caregiver, they are able to develop a secure sense of self and trust in their own feelings and experiences. The true self is characterized by spontaneity, creativity, autonomy, and a sense of inner security. Donald Woods Winnicott (True and False Self) The false self, on the other hand, develops as a defensive response to early experiences of rejection, neglect, or inconsistent caregiving. When a child's emotional needs are not adequately met, they may learn to suppress or hide their true feelings and desires in order to gain approval or avoid rejection from caregivers. Donald Woods Winnicott (True and False Self) The false self is a mask or facade that the individual presents to the world, hiding their authentic thoughts, feelings, and desires behind a persona that they believe will be more acceptable to others. While the false self may initially serve as a protective mechanism, allowing the individual to cope with difficult or traumatic experiences, it can ultimately lead to feelings of emptiness, alienation, and disconnection from one's true self.