Chapter 52 The Concept Of The Self Flashcards
How do we understand the self
We think of the self as the core of our being and as something that’s continuous over time but also the totality of our personal experience which includes our thought processes Physical body and experience that we are separate and unique from others
What are the 2 problems with the understanding of the self
The core of our being
The totality of our experiences
State the condition of stable self Vs changing self
The concept of self embodies the ideas of change and experience are growth from how we were to how we are now.
We don’t know what comes first: the stable core or the totality of experience
The self is understood as identity in the midst of constant change
What does Erik Erikson theory of identity formation suggest
It suggests that one’s identity becomes fixed during the developmental stage of adolescence when one experiences the pressures of one’s transition from being a dependent child and autonomous adult.
During this stage physical body changes occur and one’s cognitive capacities become fully developed. Identity is a solid sense of one’s ideologies philosophies values and beliefs.
This notion of identity describes the self as stable core that differentiates itself through ones having to resolve conflicting situations by committing oneself to certain beliefs and values.
What theory does humanistic psychologists like Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow hold regarding self concept
They suggest that the ultimate goal of personal development is self actualisation. The conflicting situation one has to deal with aren’t seen as crises but challenges that one seeks out in one’s attempt at actualising one self where people with high levels of self actualisation are open to new experiences and can function independently
What is self actualisation
It is the process through which people realise their potential and isn’t delivered to ones circumstance
What is the difference between Erikson’s view and Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslows
Erikson believed that experience comes before the self and change develops into a stable core while humanists believe the self comes before experience and a stable core changes
What is meant by the double self
The discription of a real self maintaining a mental picture of itself is also a picture where the philosophical problem of ontology and epistemology exist
What is ontology
It refers to the essence of things the way things really are.
What is epistemology
Refers to how we understand things
