The Proprium : Development of Selfhood Flashcards
Opportunistic functioning
One thing that motivates human beings is the tendency to satisfy biological survival needs, which Allport referred to as opportunistic functioning.
He noted that opportunistic functioning can be characterised as reactive, past-oriented, and biological.
Propriate functioning
Allport also felt that opportunistic functioning was relatively unimportant for understanding most of human behaviour, as he was of the view that most
behaviours of individuals is motivated by something very different.
This different aspect is the one that helps express one’s unique self. This type of something motivating the functioning of a person in terms of expressing of the self was termed by Allport as propriate functioning.
Allport also said that most of what persons do in life are a matter of being who the persons are, what are their individual qualities, etc.
Propriate functioning can be characterised as proactive, future-oriented, and psychological.
Proprium and the self
Propriate comes from the word ‘proprium’, which is Allport’s name for that essential concept, the self.
He had reviewed hundreds of definitions for that
concept and came to feel that, in order to be more scientific, it would be necessary to dispense with the common word self and substitute something else.
However despite the word proprium was considered a good substitute, this term never could actually substitute self and ‘self’ continue to be used to represent the individual’s unique features that motivate the person’s behaviour.
Intuitive examples of propriate functioning:
To get an intuitive feel for what propriate functioning means, think of the last time you wanted to do something or become something because you really felt like doing or becoming that something that would be expressive of the things about yourself that you believe to be most important.
Remember the last time you did something to express your self, the last time you told yourself, “that’s really me!” Doing things in keeping with what you really are, that’s propriate functioning.
Two basic viewpoints of proprium
Putting so much emphasis on the self or proprium, Allport wanted to define it as carefully as possible.
He considered proprium from two basic view points, viz., phenomenological and functional.
Proprium: Phenomenological
Phnomenological means the self is considered in terms of what it experiences.
Allport suggested that the self is composed of all the aspects of a person experiencing, that is what the person sees as most essential or important and not
incidental or accidental.
It also means warm as against being cold in terms of
emotions,
and central which means that the self is the central part and not peripheral of the self.
Proprium: Phenomenological
Seven functions
Allport considered the self as having seven functions, as given below:
1) Sense of body
2) Self-identity
3) Self-esteem
4) Self-extension
5) Self-image
6) Rational coping
7) Propriate striving
1. Sense of bodily self Seven functions ( DEvelopmental stages of Proprium)
Awareness of bodily sensations.
First aspect of proprium that evolves during the first year of life. Infants become aware of sensations coming from muscles, tendons, and joints etc.
These recurrent sensations constitute the bodily self.
- Sense of identity
Seven functions:
Continuity of self despite changes taking place.
Second aspects of proprium evolves through language, the child recognises him/herself as a distinct and constant point of reference.
By learning one’s name, clothing, toys etc. helps in
strengthening the sense of identity.
- Sense of self esteem
Pride in one’s accomplishments.
Self esteem is the feeling of pride that results
when a person accomplishes things on one’s own.
This aspect of propium emerges during the third year of life.
It depends on the child’s success in mastering tasks and his urge to explore and manipulate the environment.
- Sense of self extension
Self comes to include relevant aspects of the social and physical environment.
This evolves during 4 to 6 years of age,when
children realise that their physical bodies also belongs to certain aspects of their environment,including people.
Children learn the meaning of “mine
- Self Image
Aspirations of the person begins to reflect the goals and expectations of significant others.
It evolves around 5 or 6 years.
It is the time the child realises what is expected of him/her by significant others. The child begins to
distinguish between the ‘good me’ and
the ‘bad me’
- Sense of self as rational
Abstract reasoning and logic applied to coper solving everyday problems.
This occurs between 6 and 12 years of age,when the
child realises that s/he has the rational capacity to find solutions to life’s problems and thereby cope effectively with reality demands.
Reflective and formal thinking appears
- Propriate striving
Unified sense of self and planning for long range goals.
Allport[1961] believed that the core problem of an adolescent is the selection of career and other life
goals.
Pursuing long range goals, having a sense of directedness and intentionality in striving for defined objectives, imparting to life a sense of purpose etc.
are part of and essence of propriate striving.
Realisation of propriate striving requires a unified sense of selfhood. And hence, this occurs only in
adulthood,when all aspects of self are
consolidated
Self Assessment Questions
1) Define Proprium and describe the same.
2) What are the various stages of development of the proprium?
3) What is meant by propriate functioning?
4) How is propriate functioning different from propriate striving? Explain
5) What are the 7 functions of self? Describe with examples
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