PSY100 Understanding The Self PDF

REMINDER: You are doing very well, keep going, hang in there! ☻ Justice in the human...

REMINDER: You are doing very well, keep going, hang in there! ☻ Justice in the human person can only be attained if the three parts of the soul are working harmoniously PSY100 – UNDERSTANDING THE SELF with one another. “The self is an immortal soul.” Prelim 1st Semester All knowledge is recollection. Beauty goes beyond the body or the world of material things. The highest goal of self in education is the Form of the Good. WEEK 2 - Philosophical and Sociological Perspectives of the Self Aristotle (384-322 BC) “Man is a rational animal.” PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES “The soul is the essence of the self.” Socrates (470-399 BC) The concept of hylomorphism. “Hyle” means matter, and “morphe” means form. Nosce te ipsum (Know thyself) Three levels of soul: (1) vegetative soul, (2) sensitive soul, and (3) rational soul. Every human being possesses an immortal soul that survives the death of the physical body. The self is created for a purpose. “I know that I know nothing.” Eudaimonia (Human Flourishing). “An unexamined life is not worth living.” The self is inherently social and finds its fullest expression within a community or society. The ultimate goal of life is to be happy. Happiness is the final pursuit (chief end) of human aspirations and desires. SELF has Two Realm St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) (1) Physical Realm Theory of Self-knowledge states that one’s knowledge about himself is dependent on his experience - Physical Body (Visible) of the world around him. changing imperfect dies The problem of self-opacity occurs when an individual experiences difficulty when trying to fully (2) Ideal Realm understand himself. - Immortal Soul (Invisible) Human beings possess both natural reason and divine revelation. unchanging immortal survives the death of the body Reason is a unique and defining characteristic of the human self. Virtue and knowledge are intrinsic to the human person and can be accessed through self- Rational thinking and the study of nature enable the self to attain a deeper understanding of God and examination. achieve salvation. “The goal of life is to know thyself and to improve our souls through virtuous living.” Three theological virtues – faith, hope, and charity. Socratic method of inquiry – the dialogue between the soul and itself. In between a student and his Four cardinal virtues – prudence, temperance, justice, and fortitude. teacher (role of a questioner) – to discover the truths. The goal of self-existence is union and eternal fellowship with God Plato (428-347 BC) St. Augustine (354-430 BC) The concept of two worlds: the world of Forms (non-physical ideas) and the world of Senses (reality). The body is united with the soul, so man may be entire and complete. The soul is an entity distinct from the body. Two realms according to St. Augustine: (1) the intelligible realm and (2) the sensible realm. Theory of the soul as being tripartite, consisting of three distinct elements: reason (logos), spirit (thumos), Humankind is created in the likeness and image of God. and appetite (epithumia). Existence of free will ❖ Reason -> Head Human beings are inherently sinful due to the original sin of Adam and Eve. - Enables a person to think deeply, make wise choices, and achieve a true understanding of eternal The self is known only through knowing God. truths. “I am doubting, therefore I am.” ❖ Spirit -> Chest The self exists in time, which is subjected to change and mortality. - Basic emotions (i.e. love, anger, ambition, aggressiveness, empathy). The tripartite nature of the self: Memory, Intellect, and Will. ❖ Appetite -> Abdomen ❖ Memory - Basic biological needs (e.g. hunger, thirst, sexual desires). Experiences, thoughts, emotions, and sensory perceptions Personal history and self-awareness. ❖ Intellect 화이팅!  REMINDER: You are doing very well, keep going, hang in there! ☻ Rational thought, logical reasoning, and intellectual inquiry. John Locke (1632-1704) ❖ Will Tabula Rasa – the mind is a blank slate at birth. The power to direct one's desires and affections toward various objects. Knowledge comes from direct sense experience. The self is a thinking, conscious being. Francis Bacon (1561-1626) Consciousness is necessary for a unified self-identity in different times and places. Knowledge is power. Personal identity is closely tied to memory. Two independent elements of knowledge: experience and reason. Concept of accountability To arrive at knowledge, the self must study natures with the intention of grasping their forces. The essence of self is its conscious awareness of itself. Human mind is a crooked mirror. Every aspect of the physical body (substance) is integrated with one’s personal identity. The human mind must be free from all prejudices (idols) and pre-conceived attitudes. Society and culture play a crucial role in shaping an individual's self-concept and moral beliefs. ❖ Idols of the Mind David Hume (1711-1774) Idols of the Tribe (Idola Tribus) – common to all individuals. Supported Locke’s empiricist belief that knowledge is gained through direct sense experience. Idols of the Cave (Idola Specus) – individual prejudices. Bundle Theory – the self is a bundle or collection of fleeting perceptions and experiences. Idols of the Marketplace (Idola Fori) – language-based misunderstandings. There are only two distinct entities: (1) impressions – basic sensations of the experience, and (2) ideas Idols of the Theater (Idola Theatri) – errors resulting from dogmatic beliefs. – copies of impressions. The human mind is fitted for knowledge of nature and must derive it from observation, not from abstract There is no self. “All ideas are ultimately derived from impression. Hence, the idea of persisting self is reasoning. ultimately derived from impression but, no impression is a persisting thing. Therefore, there cannot be any The pursuit of knowledge should be guided by ethical principles and aimed at practical applications. persisting idea of self.” Death is a person’s final destination. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) Human beings are inherently selfish and driven by a desire for power. Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) Two absolute postulates of human nature: (1) postulate of greed, and (2) postulate of natural reason. The view of the self is a response to Hume. The desire to preserve one’s own life and seek personal pleasure while avoiding pain. The self is transcendental. Man’s life in the state of nature is solitary, poor nasty, brutish, and short. Knowledge connects the self and the material things together. Human judgment is unreliable and needs to be guided by science. Apperception Human beings are needy and vulnerable. Two kinds of consciousness: (a) consciousness of oneself and one’s psychological states in inner sense, Human beings are mechanical objects, programmed to pursue their self-interest and materialistic and (b) consciousness of oneself and one’s states via performing acts of apperception. desires. Three types of synthesis are required to organize information: Men form peaceful societies by entering into a social contract. 1. Apprehending in intuition 2. Recognizing in concepts Rene Descartes (1596-1650) 3. Reproducing in the imagination “If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.” Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) “Cogito ergo sum” (I think, therefore I exist). The self is multitiered, divided among conscious, subconscious, and unconscious. Self-awareness as the foundation of knowledge. Great emphasis on the unconscious aspect of the self. Self-identity is mutually dependent on self-consciousness. Concept of defense mechanism Mind-Body Dualism – The self is a combination of two distinct entities: (a) cognito or the mind, and (b) Psychoanalytic Theory is based on the notion that the unconscious self influences the conscious and extenza or extension of the mind. rational thought. The physical body is secondary to personal identity. The thinking self connects with the physical self through the pineal gland. Hyperbolical or metaphysical doubt (methodological skepticism). 화이팅!  REMINDER: You are doing very well, keep going, hang in there! ☻ TOPOGRAPHICAL THEORY OF THE Science allows people to know. HUMAN MIND It is the free will that works when a person makes decisions. The sense of “self” originated from the brain and is a product of electrochemical signals produced by Conscious – all the mental processes the brain. an individual is aware of. Eliminative Materialism – people’s common-sense understanding of mental states and concepts may Pre-conscious or Subconscious – be fundamentally flawed and should be eliminated in favor of a more neuroscientific and materialistic thoughts and feelings that an individual account. is not aware of, but can easily be Neuroscience is the key to understanding the nature of the self brought into consciousness. Unconscious – a repository of primitive Maurice Merleau-Ponty (1908-1961) wishes and impulses. Embodied nature of the self (Embodied Subjectivity). The body acts what the mind perceives as a unified one. STRUCTURE OF THE HUMAN PSYCHE The idea of “perceptual intentionality,” which states that perception is a fundamental aspect of self- experience. The self is not isolated but is defined by its social and relational context. Id – It operates on the pleasure principle. It is the impulsive (unconscious) part of the mind that ❖ AVOCADO (ESSENTIALIST VIEW) ❖ ARTICHOKE (PROTEAN VIEW) responds directly and immediately to basic urges, inner unchanging core regardless of the fluid, adaptable, and multifaceted nature of needs, and desires. circumstances and time the self Ego – It operates according to the reality principle, the ability to rationalize separates human more prone to change and adaptation, with no working out realistic ways of satisfying the id’s beings from other creatures fixed core demands, often compromising or postponing identity is seen as a process of discovering one's identity is seen as a process of continual true self adaptation and exploration, with no fixed "true" satisfaction to avoid negative consequences of views women as emotional and irrational, while self to discover society. men as rational individuals adopt in different contexts Superego – It incorporates the values and morals of society. It is the voice of conscience and the SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES source of self-criticism. “Not only is the self entwined in society; it owes society its existence in the most literal sense.” – Theodor Adorno Two Systems of the Superego What is Sociology? (1) Conscience - The system that makes a person feels bad through guilt. It comes from the Latin word ‘socius’ meaning ‘companion’, and the Greek word ‘logos’ meaning ‘the (2) Ideal Self - It is an imaginary picture of how a person ought to be. study of something’. In a general sense, sociology is the study of society. Gilbert Ryle (1900-1976) Sociology is a branch of social science that systematically studies social behavior and human groups. The self is defined by a person’s behavior and actions. It focuses primarily on the influence of social relationships on people’s attitudes and behavior and on He rejected the idea of Cartesian Dualism. how societies are established and changed. He viewed the distinction between the soul and the physical body as a “categorical mistake.” The concept of “the ghost in the machine.” The Self as a Product of Modern Society Modernization refers to the transitional process of moving from primitive (traditional) communities to Patricia Churchland (1943) modern (industrial) societies. It significantly changed not only societies but also affected how individuals The self is the brain. build and develop their self-identities. Consciousness and decision-making are just functions of the brain. Science plays a significant role in understanding how the brain and the self have evolved over time. 화이팅!  REMINDER: You are doing very well, keep going, hang in there! ☻ Giddens (1991) identified the key characteristics of modernity: According to George Herbert Mead: Industrialism – the social relations implied in the extensive use of material power and machinery in all Theory of Social Self – The self is a product of social interactions and internalizing external views and processes of production; personal views about oneself. Capitalism – a production system involving both competitive product markets and commodification He proposed the different stages of self-development – (1) imitation, (2) play, and (3) game. (putting a price tag) of labor power; He highlighted the importance of language in self-development. Institutions of Surveillance – the massive increase of power and reach by institutions, especially in government; and, Stages of Self-Development Dynamism – characterized as having vigorous activity and progress (rapid changes). Stage 1: Imitation copy behaviors of others without a full understanding of their meanings ❖ INDIVIDUALISM ❖ COLLECTIVISM Stage 2: Play A society where the ties between individuals are A society where people from birth onwards are play a role or assume the perspective of others loose: everyone is expected to look after himself integrated into strong, cohesive ingroups, which allow them to understand social roles and expectations or herself and his or her immediate family. throughout people’s lifetime continue to protect Stage 3: Game Emphasizes the ‘I’ consciousness. them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty consider multiple roles simultaneously Emphasizes the ‘we’ consciousness not only internalize other people’s perspectives but also take into account societal rules and adhere to it According to George Simme; Social Group – having two or more people interacting with one another, sharing similar characteristics, Two Facets of the Self: “I” and “Me” and whose members identify themselves as part of the group. “Me” “I” Two Types of Group: socialized aspect of the self spontaneous, creative, and individualistic (1) Organic Group shaped by societal norms, values, and the aspect of the self Naturally occurring, and highly influenced by family expectations of others the individual’s response to the community’s Formed in traditional societies learned behaviors, attitudes, and expectations attitude toward the person Organic motivation (rootedness) exercises social control over the self does not blindly follow rules Less freedom and greater conformity (2) Rational Group According to Herbert Blumer: Occur in modern societies He coined the term ‘Symbolic Interactionism’. Formed based on a matter of shared selfinterest He emphasizes how the self can emerge from the interactive process of joining action. Rational motivation (free will) There are three core principles in symbolic interaction: meaning, language, and thinking. Greater freedom Three Propositions of Symbolic Interaction Social Network – the ties or connections that link a person to his or her social group. 1. Individuals behave in accordance with the personal significance they attribute to objects. 2. Meanings originate from interactions with other individuals and with society. SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM 3. The meanings an individual has are formed and changed through a process of interpretation during interactions with others. What is Symbolic Interactionism? According to Charles Horton Cooley: It focuses on the role of symbols and social interactions in shaping Individuals create their own identities based on how they perceive themselves through the eyes of human behavior and society. others. It assumes that people respond to elements of their environments Looking-Glass Self – “…describe the process in which individuals use others as mirrors and base their according to the subjective meanings they attach to those elements. conceptions of themselves on what is reflected back to them during social interaction” (Thompson et According to Carter and Fuller (2015), it is a theoretical framework in al., 2019, p. 91). sociology that describes how societies are created and maintained through the repeated actions of individuals. 화이팅!  REMINDER: You are doing very well, keep going, hang in there! ☻ Components of the Looking-Glass Self 1. People imagine how they appear to other people; 2. People imagine how others are, thus judging them based on appearance and how they present WEEK 3 – Anthropological Perspective of the Self themselves; and, 3. People imagine how others feel about them based on the judgments they make. What is Anthropology? It is derived from the Greek words ‘anthropo’ meaning ‘human beings’ or ‘humankind’, and ‘logia’ STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL THEORY translated as ‘knowledge of’ or ‘study of’. In a general sense, anthropology is the study of humankind – past and present. What is Structural-Functional Theory? It is a branch of social science focusing on the study of origin, behavior, physical, social, and cultural Structural-Functional Theory, also known as Functionalism, emphasizes that each aspect of society is development of humans. interdependent and contributes to society's functioning as a whole. Self and the Person in Contemporary Anthropology According to Emile Durkheim; The society shapes an individual. KATHERINE PRATT EWING Social Facts – external, objective, and measurable phenomena that shape an individual’s behavior The self is a physical organism, possessing psychological functioning and social attributes. and society as a whole. The self is illusory. People construct a series of self-representations that are based on selected cultural Anomie – a sense of uncertainty and confusion about their place in the world, not knowing what they concepts of person and selected chains of personal memories. should be doing Two types of social solidarity: organic solidarity and mechanical solidarity JOSEPH LEDOUX He emphasized the importance of religion as a social institution that contributes to the stability and The self is the sum of the brain’s individual subsystems, each with its own form of memory, together with functioning of society. the complex interactions among the subsystems. He conceptualized the implicit and explicit aspects of the self. Two Types of Social Solidarity He introduced the Theory of Threat Response and the concept of two pathways. ❖ Organic Solidarity ❖ Mechanical Solidarity The self is not static; it is added to and subtracted from by genetic maturation, learning, forgetting, modern, industrial societies traditional or preindustrial societies stress, aging, and disease. based on an acceptance of economic and maintained by the collective consciousness of social differences a culture TWO ASPECTS OF THE SELF based on the interdependence of individuals based on similarities and shared values among IMPLICIT ASPECT EXPLICIT ASPECT who perform diverse and specialized roles members subconscious and automatic processes that conscious, self-reflective, and often involve shape an individual's emotional responses and introspection and self-awareness CONFLICT THEORY perceptions of the world not immediately available to the consciousness What is Conflict Theory? It views society as ongoing conflicts and inequalities, particularly in the distribution of resources and CONCEPT OF TWO PATHWAYS power. LOW ROAD (SUBCORTICAL PATHWAY) HIGH ROAD (CORTICAL PATHWAY) It assumes that all societies have structural power divisions and resource inequalities that lead to groups a fast and direct pathway that processes a slower and more elaborative pathway that having conflicting interests (Wells, 1979). threat-related information quickly provides a more detailed analysis of the threat allows for rapid and automatic fear responses enables conscious awareness of the threat, According to Karl Marx: contextual understanding, and more nuanced He examined the society through the lens of class struggle and social conflict. emotional responses Society is divided into different social classes, primarily the bourgeoisie (capitalist class) and the proletariat (working class). Self-estrangement – the alienation of man’s essence, man’s loss of objectivity, and his loss of realness as self-discovery, manifestation of his nature, objectification, and realization. 화이팅!  REMINDER: You are doing very well, keep going, hang in there! ☻ Jean Piaget Theory of Cognitive Development – It is a comprehensive theory about the development of human The Self Embedded in Culture intelligence. It deals with the nature of knowledge, and how humans gradually come to acquire, “Cultural traditions and social practices regulate, express, and construct, and use it. transform the human psyche, resulting less in psychic unity for Stages of Cognitive Development: (1) sensorimotor, (2) preoperational, (3) concrete operations, and humankind than in ethnic divergences in mind, self, and (4) formal operations emotion.” Important components of Piaget’s cognitive theory: What is Culture? Schemas/schemes – The building blocks of knowledge. These are mental organizations that individuals Culture is a complex and multifaceted concept that use to understand their environments and designate actions. encompasses the shared beliefs, values, customs, traditions, Adaptation – The child’s learning processes to meet situational demands. language, symbols, norms, and practices of a particular group 1. Assimilation – The child incorporates new information or experiences into his/her existing mental of people. It represents the way of life, identity, and social frameworks or schemas. organization of a community or society. 2. Accommodation – It is the process of modifying existing schemas or creating new ones to accommodate new information or experiences that do not fit within the current mental framework. TWO WAYS OF HOW SELF IS CONSTRUCTED 3. Equilibration – It is the process of achieving cognitive balance or equilibrium between INDIVIDUALISTIC CULTURE CONSTRUAL OR COLLECTIVIST CULTURE assimilation and accommodation. emphasizes personal autonomy, self-expression, how individuals perceive and construct their and the development of a unique and self-identity through the lens of social and cultural Stages of Cognitive Development independent identity influences STAGE AGE CHARACTERISTICS prioritize individual goals and personal fulfillment the self is shaped by external factors, including Sensorimotor 0-2 Learning by doing through their senses and motor actions social roles, relationships, and cultural norms (looking, touching, sucking) Primitive understanding of cause-and-effect relationships The Self Embedded in Culture Goal: Object permanence CATHERINE RAEFF Preoperational 2-7 Use of language and symbols (letters and numbers) She believed that culture can influence how a person views: relationships, personality traits, Egocentrism achievements, and expressing emotions. Goal: Conservation Relationships – how one enters into and maintains relationships Concrete Operations 7-11 Demonstrate conservation, reversibility, serial ordering, and Personality traits – how a person values traits and how he/she perceives hardship, or how he/she feels mature understanding of cause-and-effect relationship about relying on others Goal: Logical thought Achievement – how a person defines success Formal Operations 12+ Demonstrate abstract and hypothetical thinking Can reason about complex, theoretical concepts and engage Expressing emotions – what will affect a person emotionally in deductive reasoning Goal: Scientific reasoning WEEK 4 - Psychological Perspective of the Self Dr. Susan Harter She asserted that there are broad developmental changes that can be observed early childhood, What is Psychology? later childhood, and adolescence which could be interpreted through the Piagetian framework. The term psychology comes from the Greek words ‘psyche’ meaning soul or mind, and ‘logos’ meaning She elaborated the stages or development of self-concept: (1) early childhood, (2) middle ‘study of.’ to later childhood, (3) adolescence, and (4) emerging adults In a general sense, it is the study of mind and behavior. It is a multifaceted discipline within the field of social sciences that encompasses the systematic study of human behavior, cognitive processes, and the underlying mental phenomena. 화이팅!  REMINDER: You are doing very well, keep going, hang in there! ☻ Stages of Self-Concept IDEAL SELF REAL SELF STAGE CHARACTERISTICS the self-concept that an individual aspires to the individual's current selfconcept The Undifferentiated Self (Infancy to Early have a limited understanding of themselves as become represents how a person sees himself or herself Childhood) distinct individuals represents the person's idealized version of as he or she is now, without idealization or The Categorical Self (Preschool Years) categorize themselves and others based on himself or herself distortion concrete, observable characteristics could include: (1) notions influenced by the The Real Self (Middle Childhood) develop a more nuanced and realistic self- parents, (2) what a person admires in others, (3) concept what the society sees as applicable, and (4) what incorporate internal characteristics and abilities a person thinks is in his or her best interest (personality traits, skills, and preference) The Ideal Self (Adolescence) emergence of more abstract self-concept Importance of Aligning the Ideal Self and Real Self (inner thoughts, emotions, attitudes, and motives) CONGRUENCE creating an image of the person they aspire to when an individual’s self-concept aligns with their actual experiences and feelings be leads to a more authentic and genuine sense of self The Feared Self (Adolescence and Beyond) become aware of the aspects of themselves INCONGRUENCE that they fear becoming or being seen as when there is a significant gap between one's self-concept and their actual experiences The False Self (Adulthood) adaptation of one's self-presentation to meet can lead to inner conflicts, anxiety, and a lack of self-acceptance the expectations and approval of others Gordon Allport William James He proposed the Personality Trait Theory asserting that every person possesses traits. He is commonly known as “the father of American psychology”. Traits – a stable characteristic that remains the same regardless of the situation The right to believe – “a fact cannot come at all unless a preliminary faith exists in its coming” (James, 1896) Three Classes of Traits The self has two elements: the I-self and the Me-self Cardinal Traits the dominant and defining traits that shape an individual's entire personality THE I-SELF THE ME-SELF Central Traits known as ‘pure ego’ the self as the object the core traits that make up an individual's personality represents the subjective and immediate also known as the ‘empirical self’ Secondary Traits awareness of oneself as the thinker, the doer, and can be described based on physical less prominent and specific traits that may emerge in particular situations or contexts the experiencer of one's own actions and characteristics, personalities, social roles and thoughts relationships, thoughts, and feelings Eric Berne Four features of the I-self: Three dimensions of the Me-self: He developed the Transactional Analysis Model as a basis for understanding behavior. 1. A sense of being the agent or initiator of 1. Material – physical appearance and The Transactional Analysis Model is anchored on two notions: behavior extensions of it 1. Every person has three ego states in his or her personality. 2. A sense of being unique 2. Social – social skills and significant 2. People communicate with one another assuming roles of any of these three ego states 3. A sense of continuity interpersonal relationships 4. A sense of awareness about being aware 3. Spiritual – personality, character, and Three Ego States defining values Parent Ego represents the internalized voice of authority figures from an individual's past Carl Ransom Rogers Adult Ego He stressed that a person is an active, creative, experiencing being who lives in the present and who the rational and objective part of the individual that processes information, makes decisions based thinks, feels, and responds to his or her environment. on facts, and engages in critical thinking He coined the term ‘actualizing tendency’. Child Ego He established the Theory of Personality Development represents the emotional and instinctual part of the individual 화이팅!  REMINDER: You are doing very well, keep going, hang in there! ☻ Natural child (loves to play but is sensitive and vulnerable); Little professor (curious child who wants The self is interdependent and ever changing. to try everything); and, Adaptive child (one who reacts to the world) Annata (‘no-self’ or ‘no-soul’) – There is no permanent, unchanging, or inherent self (also known as atman) within individuals. Instead, the self is considered a transient and ever-changing collection of Gregg Henriques components. He proposed that the self has three related, but separable domains. Nirvana (liberation) – The realization of the nature of the self is seen as a path to liberation, through 1. Experiential self – the theater of consciousness; closely tied to memory which individuals can achieve a state of freedom from suffering and the cycle of birth and death or 2. Private self-conscious – the narrator or interpreter; narrates the unfolding events and tries to makes samsara. sense of the experience Confucianism 3. Public self or persona – image a person projects to the public; interacts with others and will influence It is rooted in the teachings of Confucius. how others see a person The self is formed through upbringing and the environment. Every person is born with four beginnings. Donald Woods Winnicott Jen (heart of compassion) – It involves treating others with respect and kindness, showing According to him, the self is simple “the person who is me”. concern for their well-being, and striving to create harmonious relationships in society. He introduced the concepts of the ‘true self’ and the ‘false self’ as part of his psychoanalytic theory. Yi (heart of righteousness) – It involves upholding moral principles, acting with integrity, and seeking fairness and justice in one's interactions with others. TRUE SELF FALSE SELF Li (heart of propriety) – It emphasizes the importance of proper conduct, etiquette, and an individual's authentic and innate sense of self a protective, adaptive persona that individuals the core of one's being and encompasses develop in response to external expectations, decorum in various social situations. genuine emotions, desires, and a sense of pressures, and social norms Chih (heart of wisdom) – It represents the quality of sound judgment, critical thinking, and the personal identity designed to gain acceptance, avoid rejection, ability to make informed decisions. spontaneity, creativity, and a sense of vitality or meet the demands of others The self is deeply embedded with the family and society, and it is only in that context that the self comes to be what it is. WEEK 5 - The Self in Western and Oriental or Eastern Thought Taoism The self is one of the countless manifestation of the Tao (an extension of the cosmos or the universe). ❖ WESTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF Selfhood entails conscious self-transformation leading to the attributes of a balanced life in harmony Four categories on how the term ‘self’ is used in contemporary western discussion (Johnson, 1985): with both nature and society. Analytical – It emphasizes a cognitive and introspective approach to self-examination. It involves Islam dissecting one's thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a systematic manner. Nafs (self) – It is the psyche (the totality of the conscious and unconscious human mind) or the soul). Monotheistic – It is deeply rooted in religious and spiritual traditions, particularly within monotheistic religions such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The self has to be nurtured and self-regulated, so that it can progress into becoming ‘good’ or ‘evil’ Individualistic – It emphasizes personal autonomy and uniqueness. through its thoughts and actions. Materialistic or Rationalistic – It focuses on the tangible and empirical aspects of the self. It often aligns INDIVIDUALISTIC VS. COLLECTIVIST SELF with scientific and philosophical worldviews that prioritize reason, logic, and empirical evidence. INDIVIDUALISTIC SELF COLLECTIVIST SELF “I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of Emphasizes interdependence and harmonious ❖ EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE SELF my soul.” relatedness with one another Hinduism Oriented around the individual Of utmost important to be part of and maintain Vedas – These are the earliest religious writings in the East that formed the Hindu philosophy and dharma Highly value independence and self-reliance social networks, maintain good relationships, and (the principle of cosmic order). These illustrate the eastern mindset of a completely unified universe with Emphasis on personal achievements fulfill obligations the creator, with no distinction. Brahman – It is the true nature of humans which is the divine universal consciousness encompassing According to Baumeister (1986), self-concept could be organized in three aspects: the universe. It is considered as the self that is within everyone. 1. Private – the mental processes that perceive one’s own traits or behaviors 2. Public – the generalized view of the self Buddhism 3. Collective – the view of self in a collective concept Composed of the teachings of Buddha 화이팅!