UTS
to meet situational demands
ANTHROPOLOGICAL CONCEPTUALIZATION OF
THE SELF
- anthropology holds a holistic view of human
nature.
- considers human experience as an interplay of
“nature”
- 2 ways concepts of self are viewed in different
societies: egocentric & socio-centric
egocentric concept – a person is capable of
acting independently ex. Americans
socio-centric concept – viewed as a dependent
ex. Japanese
self-identification – by kinship, family
membership, gender, age, language, religion,
etc.
PSYCHOLOGICAL CONCEPT OF THE SELF
Psychology – study of mind and behavior
Jean Piaget – swiss clinical psychologist
- pioneered the “theory of cognitive
development”
- wanted to know how children
learned through development
What is Cognitive development:
- ability to think and understand
- ability to think, reason, and problem-solve
- people’s thinking changes across the lifespan
- observing children in particular
Three basic components of Piaget's cognitive
theory
Schema: internal representation of the world.
Helps individual understand the world they
inhabit.
Adaptation: involves the child's learning process
Stages of cognitive development: reflect the
increasing sophistication of the child’s thought
processes.
Assimilation – using an existing schema to deal
w new object/situation.
Accommodation – happens when the existing
schema does not work and needs to be change
to deal w new object/situation.
Stages of cognitive development
Sensorimotor (0-2 yrs) – explores the world
through direct sensory and motor contact.
Object permanence and separation anxiety
developed during this age.
Preoperational (2-6 yrs) – child uses symbols
(words and images) to represent objects. Child
can pretend, the child is egocentric at this stage.
Concrete operational (7-12 yrs) – child can think
logically, and the child can understand
conversation.
Formal operational (12 yrs - adult) – adolescent
can reason abstractly & think in hypothetical
terms.
Harter’s self-development concept
Psychologist, author, and professor Dr. Susan
Harter detailed the emergence of self-concept
and board developmental changes observed
across childhood, later childhood, and
adolescence within the Piagetian framework

According to Rogers, human beings are always
striving for self-actualization. In Rogers view
close (congruence) the ideal self to the real self,
more fulfilled and happier. Far (incongruence)
from the ideal self, the person becomes
unhappy and dissatisfied.
Rogers two components of self-concept: the
real self and the ideal self
The ideal self could include:
- notions influenced by your parents
- what you admire in others
- what the society sees as acceptable
- what you think is in your best interest
The real self is the person you actually are. It is
how you behave right at the moment of
situation.
Winnicott has found the self is composed of the
true self and the false self. False self hide and
protect the true self.
Gordon Allport (1961) a psychologist proposed
his “personality trait” theory asserting that
every person possesses “traits”- is the essential
characteristics that never change and stick w
you all your life. Traits also shape who you are
(the way u think, feel, or behave)
The ego states
Eric Berne (1960) began to develop his
transactional analysis model basis for
- every person has three parts called “ego
states” in his/her personality
- ppl communicate w one another assuming
roles if any of these ego states: parent, adult,
child
Parent ego – voice of authority, could be:
comforting “nurturing” parent /
“controlling/critical parent”
Adult ego – rational person. Voice that speaks
reasonably and knows how to assert
him/herself
Child ego – has 3 states, 1. The curious child
who loves to play but is sensitive and
vulnerable, 2. Little professor is a curious child
who wants to try everything. 3. The adaptive
child is the one who reacts to the world.
Domain of the self
Gregg Henriques, univ prof and author
proposed that the human self has 3 related but
separable domains.
Experimental self – theater of consciousness, is
the first to experience its beingness (the state or
fact of existing). Closely to ties to memory
Private self – narrator or interpreter.
Public self/persona – image you project to the
public.
THE SELF IN WESTERN AND
ORIENTATIONAL/EASTERN CONCEPTS OF THE
SELF
Western concept of self – GEERTZ (van Meijil,
2008) defines the western concept of “self” as a
bounded, unique.
Western self as Analytic – w emphasis on casual
links. One must categorize and make
distinctions to pursue cause (me vs others)
Western self as Monotheism – belief in one
supreme being coexisting w the universe
condences the supernatural and human
capabilities (man was created by God, by his
image)
Western self as Individualistic – favorable and
unfavorable conditions inherent in personal
freedom.
Eastern concept of the self
Eastern also called Oriental; represents Asia
Confucianism – a system of ethics devised by
the Chinese scholar K’ung Futzu (Latinised to
Confucius) in sixth century BC China.
- self is characterized by relational identity
means that a person is defined by his/her
significant relationships.
- self-cultivation/self-realization is seen as the
ultimate purpose of life.
Chun-tzu (man of virtue or noble character;
commonly translated as gentleman or superior
man) a man of self-cultivation
- to be a chun-tzu, man has to live by these
principles:
Li is the principle of self-restraint and sense of
propriety. Includes the following social
etiquette & mannerisms.
Cheng means sincerity & unwavering devotion
to the good.
Hsiao is love for the immediate family and then
society.
Yi is the principle of righteousness.
Xin is the principle of honesty in life.
Jen is the most important of all principles.
Means being king & humane to your fellow
beings. About helping out others.
Chung is loyalty to one’s family & one’s
country.
Confucius specifies the five important
relationships
1. king to subject
2. father to son
3. husband to wife
4. older brother to younger brother
5. friend to friend
Taoism
- religious/philosophical tradition of Chinese
origin, emphasizes living in harmony w the Tao
or the Way.
- tao denotes the principle that is source,
pattern, and substance of everything that exists.
- disavows a hierarchical view of the self,
society, or cosmos.
Buddhism
Buddha taught that an individual is a
combination of five aggregates of existence, also
called five skandhas or the five heaps.
Five skandhas
Form – physical form
Sensation – made up of four feelings, both
emotional and physical, and our senses.
Perception – means thinking
Mental formations – habits, prejudices, and
predispositions
Consciousness – awareness of or sensitivity to
an object, but w/out conceptualization
The doctrine of anatman (Sanskrit; anatta in
Pali) core teaching of Buddhism.
Bodhi means awakened
BEAUTY
Halo effect – tendency of people to rate
attractive individuals more favorably for their
personality traits or characteristics as compared
to those who are less attractive.
Cognitive bias – error in reasoning, evaluating,
remembering, or any other mental process that
is often a result of holding on to one’s
preference.
For females, an attractive man has the:
- relatively prominent cheekbones and eyebrow
ridges
- relatively long lower face
- prominent jaw-line
For males, an attractive woman has the:
- overall young or even childlike appearance
- prominent cheekbones
- large eyes
-small nose
- taller forehead
- smooth skin
How cultural traditions shape body image:
Body image is generally defined as how one
thinks and feels toward one's body.
Ph is undoubtedly influenced by Western
culture.
Self-esteem – number of successes a person
achieves in the domains of life that are
important to him/her. (William James)
- attitude concerning one’s worth as a person
(roseberg)
How important is physical beauty?
- physical beauty is extremely important.
Dictionary’s definition of beauty is “the degree
to which a person’s physical traits are
considered pleasing or beautiful” did not
indicate “who”.
- self-image problem happens when your looks
do not match your beauty standards.
Tips on how to take care of your body
Healthy eating – need to eat right
Embracing a healthy lifestyle – avoid drinking,
smoking
Maintaining proper hygiene – taking care of
your body
Being confident – self-confidence is your best
make-up