Self as a Cognitive

Construct
Lesson 3
Starling murmuration
BIOD Simulation
The self may not be
abstract at all.
FRONTAL LOBE
□ This is where the self is being processed.
□ The emotional control center and home to personality and decision making abilities

Damage to the frontal lobe may lead to:

□ Behavioral changes
□ Mood disorders
□ Lack of concentration
 I vs. Me

□ I = concerns the □ Me =describing

existing of the self. the person’s
■ Thinking personal
■ acting and experiences:
■ feeling self ■ Material Self
■ Social Self
William James
■ Spiritual Self
 ID
- Pleasure principle
EGO
- Realistic principle
SUPEREGO
- Idealistic principle

Sigmund Freud
 Self Concept
– refers to the image of oneself.

Self
– flexible and changing perception of personal
identity, develops from interaction with
significant people and self awareness.
Carl Rogers
 Identity Self-concept Self Schema

• Personal • What comes to • Actively shape

characteristics your mind when and affect how
• Social roles asked about you see, think,
• Responsibilities who you are and feel about
• Affiliations things.

not fixed in one time frame.

 NATURE and NURTURE Perspective

THEORY OF SYMBOLIC
INTERACTIONISM
□ Society helped in creating the foundations of who we are.
□ We need others to affirm and reinforce who we think we are.
□ What is important to us is also linked to what is important in our
social or historical context.

Therefore, social interactions and group affiliations are vital factors in

creating our self-concept
 SELF-AWARENESS
2 TYPES OF SELF
1. Private self or your internal standards and private
feelings and thoughts.
2. The public self or your public image commonly geared
towards having a good presentation of yourself to others
 SELF-AWARENESS
3 OTHER SELF-SCHEMA
1. Actual self – who you are at the moment
2. Ideal self- who you like to be
3. Ought self – who you think you should be

One should find solution to such discrepancies.

 SELF-AWARENESS
3 OTHER SELF-SCHEMA
1. Actual self – who you are at the moment
2. Ideal self- who you like to be
3. Ought self – who you think you should be

One should find solution to such discrepancies.

 SELF-ESTEEM
Self esteem is defined as our own positive or negative
evaluation of ourselves.

SELF COMPARISON THEORY

□ We know about ourselves by comparing aspects of ourselves with other
people
□ Downward social comparison: we create positive self-concept by comparing
ourselves with those who are worse than us.
□ Upward social comparison – comparing ourselves with those who are better
than us.
SELF-EVALUATION MAINTENANCE THEORY
3 WAYS TO REACT WHEN WE FEEL THREATENED
1. We distance ourselves from that person or redefine the
relationship.
2. We may reconsider the importance of the aspect or skill
in which you were outperformed.
3. We may strengthen our way to resolve and improve that
certain aspect of ourselves.

Too much can lead to narcissism

 SELF-ESTEEM
□ People with high self-esteem are commonly described as
outgoing, adventurous, and adaptable.
□ However, they could also be nonconforming, bullies and
experiment on abusive behaviors.
□ In conclusion, children should be rewarded for good
behavior and accomplishment and not just to make them
feel better or appease them.
SELF as a
Cognitive Construct
Sense of personal identity and of who we
are as individuals.