Understanding the Self

Lesson 4:
Psychology
Psychology
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note, the type in
your idea.

delves in the Physiological having to with an organism’s physical processes and the Cognitive having to do with an
organism’s thinking

Learning psychology can help you gain better understanding of your own behavior and give useful insight thereof said
behaviors.

It is derived from two Greek words, psyche meaning soul/mind; and logos meaning study”. Literally, psychology means the
study of souls but now it is study of mind.

Psychology primarily studies WHO and WHAT we are, WHY we act and think in a particular manner and what is our
potential as an individual.

Study of psychology is concerned with specific study of behavior and mental process. Psychology focus on the individual,
cognitive functions and other possible factors that affect the individual.
 who am i?
A lot of people say, “I am who I
am”, yet this statement still
begs the question “if you are
who you are, then who are you
that makes who you are?”
self
” is the “sense of personal
identity and of who we are as
individuals (Jhangiani and
Tarry 2014).”
identity
concept of an individual about
himself and often referred to
as “self-identity”

self-identity self self

- is the belief of what the
individuals thinks and feels
about him. And can
also be influenced by how
others perceive an individual
development representation
t is a continuous process has important implications for
throughout the lifespan; one’s socio-emotional functioning
sense of self may change, at throughout the lifespan.
least somewhat, throughout
one’s life.
William James
one of the earliest psychologists to study the self and conceptualized the self as having 2 aspects – the “I” and the “me”.

the "I" is the response of an individual to the attitudes of others, while the "me" is the organized set of attitudes of others
which an individual assumes. Mead develops William James' distinction between the "I" and the "me.”

the “I” is the thinking, acting, feeling self. While the “me” is the physical characteristics as well psychological capabilities
that makes who you are.

Attitudinal Change - quoting William James himself “The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can
alter their lives by altering their attitudes of the mind”. He meant that with just the simple change of attitude anyone even
you can change your life for better or for worse.

“I” (the self in action) "Me” (the self as an object in the world)
- Self in process, in the moment
- The impulsive, spontaneous, and indeterminate - The structured and determinate part of the self
part of the self - A product of interaction and conscious reflection
- Non-reflective - We know the “I” only through the “me”
- Part of the self that produces individuality
Chapter 4: Psychology

“When I look at the world

I'm pessimistic, but when
I look at people I am
optimistic.”
- Carl Rogers
Carl Rogers
According to his theory, the “I” as the one who acts and decides while the “me” is what you think or feel about yourself as
an object.

The I Self reflects what people see or perceive themselves doing in the physical world (e.g., recognizing that one is walking,
eating, writing), in other words, the one who acts and decides.

Meanwhile, the Me Self is a more subjective and psychological phenomenon, referring to individuals’ reflections about
themselves (e.g. characterizing oneself as athletic, smart, cooperative). Therefore, it is what you think or feel about
yourself.

Self-schema – is our organized system or collection of knowledge about who we are. It may also include our interests,
work, course, age, name, and physical characteristics. As you grow and adapt to the changes around you, self-schema
also changes.

When someone states your first name even if they are not talking about you, your attention is drawn to them.
If you have provincial language and you hear someone using it, it catches your attention.
If you consider yourself a book-lover, a bookstore may always entice you out of all other stores in a mall.
Unconditional positive
regard, sometimes referred to
as “UPR”, is a term attributed
to Carl Rogers, the creator of
person-centered counseling
and one of the founders of
humanistic therapy. UPR refers
to accepting and supporting
another exactly as they are,
without evaluating or judging
them.
Identity is composed of
Self-Concept is how someone thinks about or perceives
personal characteristics, social
themselves. “the individual’s belief about himself or herself,
roles and responsibilities, as
including the person’s attributes and who and what the self
well as affiliations that define
is."
who one is.
Identity- concept of an individual about himself and often referred to as “self-identity” or the self
belief of what the individuals thinks and feels about himself. And can also be influenced by how
others perceive an individual
Roles- are also part of his identity. (E.g. birth order in the family, nature of work, occupation or
title, academic and social standing)

SELF, IDENTITY, and SELF-CONCEPT are NOT FIXED in one-time
frame.
“ I was a varsity player in 5th grade” which pertains to the past,
“ a college student” which may be the present, and
“a future politician” which is the future.
They are not also fixed for life nor are they ever-changing at every
moment. Think of a malleable metal, strong and hard but can be
bent and molded in other shapes. Think about water. It can take
any shape of the container, but at its core, it is still the same
element.
Experiences of the Self
The Self-concept includes two different experiences of the self:
. The existential self - The concept that you are unique/different
from others (Persian poet RUMI pondered, “Who am I in the midst
of all this thought traffic?”), Subjective (I).
2. The Categorical self - concept (and the concept of others)
tends to focus on his or her own visible characteristics, Objective
(ME).
Carl Rogers
Self-Concept - The real self is WHO WE ACTUALLY ARE. It is HOW WE THINK, HOW WE FEEL, LOOK, AND ACT. The real
self can be seen by others, but because we have no way of truly knowing how others view us, the real self is our self-
image.
Self-Concept/Self-Schema Composed of 3 Things:
Self-Image(Real Self) – who you are at the moment, Self image includes: Physical description, Social Roles,
Personal traits, existential statements
Ideal Self – who you like to be is how we want to be. It is an idealized image that we have developed over time,
based on what we have learned and experienced. Could include components of what our parents have taught us,
what we admire in others, what our society promotes, and what we think is in our best interest.
Ought Self ( Self-Esteem/Self-worth) – who you think you should be. Our group identity and self-awareness also
has a great impact on our SELF-ESTEEM, one of the common concepts associated with the “self. It is defined as
our own positive and negative perception or evaluation of ourselves.

A person’s ideal self may not be consistent with their actual experience (real self), or what is even possible. This is called
incongruence. One has to find solution to such discrepancies to avoid agitation, dejection, or other negative emotions. In
some instances, however, all 3 may be in line with one another.
Carl Rogers
Self-actualization refers to the need for personal growth and development throughout one's life. It is the highest level of
Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which was developed by psychologist Abraham Maslow. Once you are self-actualized,
you've met your full potential as an individual.
Self-Esteem and Self-Worth refers to the extent to which we like, accept, or approve of ourselves; or how much we
value ourselves. Self-esteem always involves a degree of evaluation, and we may have either a positive or a negative view
of ourselves

Social Comparison Theory

One of the ways in which our social relationship affects our self-esteem is through social comparison. According to the Social
Comparison Theory, we learn about ourselves, the appropriateness of our behaviors, as well as our social status by comparing
aspects of ourselves with other people.

Downward Social Comparison Upward Social Comparison

is the more common type of comparing ourselves
with others. We create a positive self-concept by
comparing ourselves with those who are
worse off than us. By having the advantage, we can
raise our self-esteem.
comparing ourselves with those who are better off
than us. While it can be a form of motivation for
some, a lot of those who do this actually felt lower
self-esteem as they highlight more of their weakness
or inequities
Carl Rogers
SOCIAL COMPARISON also entails what is called Self-Evaluation Maintenance Theory. In this theory, we can feel
threatened when someone out-performs us, especially when that person is close to us (i.e, a family or a friend). In this
case, we usually react in 3 ways:

We distance ourselves from that person or redefine our relationship with them. Some will resort to the silent
treatment, change of friends, while some may also redefine by being closer to that person, hoping that some
association may give him some kind of acknowledgment also.

We distance ourselves from that person or redefine our relationship with them. Some will resort to the silent
treatment, change of friends, while some may also redefine by being closer to that person, hoping that some
association may give him some kind of acknowledgment also.

Strengthen or resolve to improve that certain aspect of ourselves. Instead of quitting drawing, you might join seminars,
practice more often, read books about it, and add some elements in your drawings that makes it unique, among
others. Achieving your goal through hardwork may increase your self-esteem, too.
Carver and Scheier
Carver and Scheier have identified 2 types of self that we can be aware of:

1. The Private self – your internal standards and private thoughts and feelings
2. The Public self – public image commonly geared toward having a good presentation of yourself to others.

One must find solution to such discrepancies to avoid agitation, dejection, or other negative emotions. In some instances,
however, all 3 may be in line with one another.

Self-consciousness
Self-consciousness is when self – awareness can be too much that we are concerned about being observed and criticized by
others. At other times, especially with large crowds, we may experience deindividuation or the “loss of individual self-
awareness and individual accountability in groups” when we attuned ourselves with the emotions of our group and because
the large crowd also provides some kind of anonymity, we may lessen our self-control and act in ways that we will not do
when we are alone (e.g. mass demonstration erupting into a riot).

Looking outside – e.g. seeing other people who are better and dreaming to become the same.
Looking inside – reflecting on what the heart desires
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, the clinical method for treating
psychopathology through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst. Psychoanalysis is a method through which an
analyst unpacks unconscious conflicts based on the free associations, dreams and fantasies of the patient.
Psychoanalysis and Sigmund Freud

Freud's theory of human personality revealed another facet of society. Based on Freud's formulation, the individual human
mind—the source of our subjectivity—is created by social and cultural forces that operate beneath the level of the
unconscious self. It is like saying that even in our minds, there are facets of ourselves.

In Freudian perspective, “socialization”, the lifelong process of learning the ways and behaviors appropriate to particular
society, is not only an external or structural process but also an internal, mental process. There, in the inner psyche the
individual—the unconscious and conscious self—societal presence is constantly being engaged with by the person. This is
what makes up the totality of the person; and society is very much part of it.

Freud further concluded that mental disorder might be caused purely by psychological factor rather than organic factors.
He also proposed that dreams are the disguised expressionsof unconscious wishes and emphasized libidinal (sex) urges
of a person.
Sigmund Freud
Freud’s View of Human Nature
Freud’s view of human nature is that human beings are biological organisms motivated by the satisfaction of bodily
needs and with motivating forces that drive behavior. His theory suggests that personality (mind) is composed of the
id, the ego, and the superego.

True Self Vs False Self

The concept of true self and false self can be found in many psychological and spiritual circles, and it can mean
different things in each. Inside each of us are 2 wolves: One is evil and one is good.

Which wolf wins? The one you feed most.

The true self is the core of you who are, the original you, unshaped by upbringing or
society. This is the state you were born in and it is a state that still exists inside you. Your false
self can also be called your adapted self. This is the parts of you that have altered behavior,
repressed feelings and pushed your needs aside to fit in with others.
Understanding the Self

Lesson 5:
The Self in Western and
Oriental/Eastern Thought
Chapter 4: Psychology

“One of the most effective ways to learn

about oneself is by taking seriously the
cultures of others. It forces you to pay
attention to those details of life which
differentiate them from you.”
- Edward T. Hall
Concept of Self
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your idea.

There are a lot of sources in which we can analyze the perspective of each culture and country about the concept of the
“self.”
Literature - like how one depicts a hero or villain in their stories in different countries, like USA, China, Korea, etc.

Socialization - like how they see their boss or their subordinate

Artworks, Dances, Even Clothing - This thing may show us clues about the Self.

Cultural Diversity
Put themselves first
Dedicated to independent thinking and self-reliance
Distant to the feelings of others
Preserving, and success of the group is more important
Paying attention to the needs and feelings of each member of the group
Sensitive with the feelings of the members of the group to each other
Western Thoughts
They give higher value with their personal rights.

The western society is trying to find and prove the "truth."

Eastern Thoughts
Giving more value to social responsibility and accepting the reality of life (fact) and interested in maintaining the balance
of life
 Values
Westerners Eastern
Westerners emphasize more on the value of Eastern with their collectivistic culture, put more
equality even if they see that the individual can emphasis on hierarchy as the culture wants to
rise above everything else. Because everyone is keep things in harmony and order (Qingxue,
on their own competition, one can say that they 2003).
also promote ideals that create “fair” competition
and protect the individual.
Ex: For Asians, we have respectful terms for our
seniors and a lot of workers would not dare go
Ex: Westerners would most likely to call their against the high-ranking officials.
bosses, parents, or other seniors by their first
name. The boss can also be approached head-on
when conflicts or problems about him arises.
 Self- Description
Westerners Eastern
Talk more about their personal attributes when In general talk about their social roles or the social
describing themselves; situations that invoked certain traits that they
deem positive for their selves.
 Self-Evaluations
Westerners Eastern
They would highlight their personal achievements They would rather keep a low profile as promoting
the self can be seen as boastfulness that disrupts
social relationships
 Individualistic Collectivist
Focus is on the person The group and social relations is given more
importance than individual needs and wants
Talk more about their personal attributes when
describing themselves. Talk about their social roles or the social situations
that invoked certain traits that they deem positive
Highlight their personal achievements for their selves.

Looks at the world in DUALITIES wherein you are Keep a low profile as promoting the self can be
distinct from the other person, the creator is seen as boastfulness that disrupts social
separate from the object he created. relationships

Sees the other person as part of yourself as well

as the things you may create, a drama in which
everyone is interconnected with their specific
roles
Western vs. Eastern Philosophers
1. CONFUCIANISM
Also known as RUISM, is described as tradition, a philosophy, a humanistic or rationalistic religion which was developed from
the teachings of the Chinese philosopher CONFUCIUS (1551-479 BCE) who considered himself a re-codifier and re-
transmitter of the theology and values inherited from the Shang and Zhou dynasty.

It is focused on having a harmonious social life. Identity and self-concept of the individual are interwoven with the identity
and status of his/her community or culture, sharing its pride as well as its failures.

Subdued Self – personal needs are repressed (subdued) for the good of many, making Confucian society also hierarchical
for the purpose of maintaining order and balance in society. (Ho, 1995).

3 Essential Core Values of Confucianism: 5 Basic Virtues of Confucianism:

Filial Piety – respect for elders Ren – benevolence, humaneness
Humaneness - goodness Yi – righteous, justice
Ritual - proper conduct Li – proper, rite
Zhi – knowledge
Xin - integrity
Western vs. Eastern Philosophers
2. TAOISM

Also known as Daoism. A Chinese philosophy based on the writings of Lao-tzu (6th century BC) advocating humility and
religious piety.

Is living in the way of the TAO or the UNIVERSE. It is a simple lifestyle and its teachings. It aims to describe how to attain life.
The self is part of the universe. It is living a balanced life with society and nature, being open and accepting to change,
forgetting about prejudices and egocentric ideas and thinking about equality as well as complementarity among humans as
well as other beings. (Ho, 1995) The self is in harmony with everything.

Concept of Harmony - A central feature of Taoism is harmony

The 3 Treasures or 3 Jewels - (3 ESSENTIAL
between people and their environment, Nature, or Tao.
ENERGIES SUSTAINING HUMAN LIFE):
The Tao Chi (Yin-Yang diagram) is an example of the value of
Jing – “essence”
harmony with the environment. It is also applied to the concept
Qi – “energy”
of health for energy (qi/chi), balance for disease prevention,
Shen – “spirit”
healing, and the development of human potential.
Western vs. Eastern Philosophers
2. BUDDHISM

It is the world’s 4th-lagest religion, with over 520M followers or over 7% of the global population are Buddhists. It is an Indian
religion. All Buddhist traditions share the GOAL OF OVERCOMING SUFFERING AND THE CYCLE OF DEATH & REBIRTH, either by
the attainment of Nirvana or through the path of Buddhahood.

It is our quest to forget about the SELF, forget about the cravings of the self, break the attachments you have with the world,
and to renounce the self which is the cause of all suffering and in doing so, attain the state of NIRVANA.

Gautama Buddha taught that all beings conditioned by causes

3 Marks of Existence:
1. Impermanence (anicca) - all things are in constant
state of flux; nothing lasts, and everything decays
2. Suffering (dukkha) - all things are not experienced;
everything is conditioned and conditioning
3. Non-Self (anatta) - denies that there is anything called
a “SELF”
(sankhara) are impermanent (anicca) and suffering (dukhha), and
that not-self(anatta) characterizes all dhammas, meaning THERE
IS NO “I”, “ME” or “MINE” in either the conditioned or the
unconditioned (i.e. nibbana).
Un-satisfactoriness and suffering exist and are universally
experienced. Desire and attachment are the causes of un-
satisfactoriness and suffering