Understanding the Self - Psychological Perspective of the Self Part 1

Lara Tereza

29 Sept 202012:00

Summary

TLDRIn this lesson, students explore the psychological perspective of the self through various theories. Key concepts include William James' 'Me' and 'I' selves, David Lester's multiple versus unified self, and Donald Winnicott's true versus false self. Students are encouraged to define the self and consider the impact of different factors on its formation, with a focus on the challenges of maintaining a unified self across various roles and relationships.

Takeaways

🎓 Today's lesson focuses on the psychological perspective of the self, aiming to help students understand different psychological theories about the self.
🧠 Students are expected to be able to identify various psychological ideas about the self and create their own definition based on these theories.
🔍 The lesson will analyze how different factors in psychology contribute to the formation of the self.
🤔 The statement 'I am who I am' is used to provoke thought about personal identity and what constitutes an individual's self.
📚 The self is defined from a psychological perspective as a sense of personal identity and individuality.
👨‍🏫 William James, known as the father of American psychology, distinguished between the 'Me' (experience) and the 'I' (existence) aspects of the self.
🧐 David Lester's concept of the self involves the construction of multiple selves across different roles and relationships, which can be challenging for adolescents to unify.
👶 Donald Winnicott's theory introduces the idea of the 'True Self' and 'False Self', where the latter is created to hide the former in certain social contexts.
🤷‍♂️ The concept of the 'False Self' is explored, where individuals may pretend to be someone else to fit in or impress others.
🤔 The lesson will continue with Carl Rogers' self theory in the next video, encouraging students to reflect on their own experiences with the self.
❓ Students are invited to participate in an online discussion about whether they have ever hidden their true self and why.

Q & A

What is the main objective of today's lesson on the psychological perspective of the self?
-The main objective is for students to identify different psychological ideas about the self, create their own definition based on these ideas, and analyze the effects of various factors in the formation of the self.
What does the statement 'I am who I am' prompt us to consider about the self?
-This statement prompts us to consider the nature of personal identity and what factors contribute to making us who we are.
How did Zhangyani and Tari define the self in 2014?
-Zhangyani and Tari defined the self as the sense of personal identity and of who we are as individuals.
What are the two understandings of the self that William James distinguished?
-William James distinguished between the 'Me' and the 'I', which represent the empirical self and the pure ego respectively.
What is the empirical self according to William James?
-The empirical self, according to James, is the self that experiences and is divided into material self, social self, and spiritual self.
What is the concept of 'Self as I' in William James's theory?
-The 'Self as I' refers to the thinking, acting, and feeling self, which is the part of the self that knows who one is.
How does David Lester view the construction of the self?
-David Lester views the self as having multiple selves that vary across different roles and relationships, and the challenge for individuals, especially adolescents, is to develop a unified self.
What is the concept of 'True Self' and 'False Self' as proposed by Donald Winnicott?
-According to Donald Winnicott, the 'True Self' is the authentic self that is hidden and protected by the 'False Self', which is created to adapt to social situations and impress others.
Why might an individual create a 'False Self'?
-An individual might create a 'False Self' to fit into a group, impress others, or cope with different social situations, often hiding their 'True Self' in the process.
What question will be discussed in the next online session regarding the self?
-The next online discussion will focus on the question of whether students have ever experienced hiding their true self and the reasons behind it.
Which psychologist will be discussed in the next video, and what is their contribution to the theory of the self?
-The next video will discuss Carl Rogers and his theory of the self, which emphasizes concepts like self-concept, self-esteem, and the fully functioning person.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Introduction to Psychological Perspective of the Self

In this introductory paragraph, the speaker welcomes students to a lesson on the psychological perspective of the self, which is part of chapter one, lesson three. The aim of the lesson is for students to understand different psychological concepts of the self, create their own definition, and analyze how various factors influence self-formation. The speaker poses a philosophical question about identity and introduces the transition from philosophical to sociological and now psychological perspectives on the self. Zhangyani and Tari's 2014 definition of the self as a sense of personal identity is mentioned, setting the stage for a discussion of seven psychologists' views on the self.

05:02

🧠 William James' Concept of Self

The speaker delves into William James' concept of the self, highlighting his distinction between the 'Me' and the 'I'. James, known as the father of American psychology, proposed that the 'Me' represents the empirical self, which includes material, social, and spiritual aspects, while the 'I' is the pure ego or the knowing self. This concept is foundational to understanding the self from a psychological perspective, emphasizing the importance of both the thinking, acting, and feeling aspects ('I') and the experiences and possessions that define an individual ('Me').

10:14

🌟 David Lester's Multiple Versus Unified Self

David Lester's theory on the self is explored, focusing on the idea of multiple selves that individuals construct based on different roles and relationships. The speaker explains how adolescents, in particular, face challenges in managing these multiple selves and the struggle to achieve a unified self. The concept is relevant to students' experiences, as they navigate various social contexts and the pressure to present different aspects of themselves. The goal is for individuals to integrate these multiple selves into a cohesive identity.

👶 Donald Winnicott's True and False Self

The speaker introduces Donald Winnicott's perspective on the self, which includes the concepts of the true self and the false self. Winnicott, an English pediatrician and psychoanalyst, believed that the true self is the core of an individual's identity, while the false self is a facade created to adapt to social expectations or to gain acceptance. The speaker discusses how people might hide their true self to fit in or impress others, which can be a challenge, especially for adolescents. The importance of authenticity and the potential impact of consistently presenting a false self are highlighted.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Psychological Perspective of the Self

This term refers to the way psychology views and analyzes the concept of self. It is the lens through which psychologists study how individuals perceive themselves and construct their identities. In the video, this perspective is used to explore various theories about the self, including the works of different psychologists and how they contribute to our understanding of personal identity.

💡Self

The 'self' is a central theme in the video, referring to an individual's sense of being, their identity, and consciousness. It is the core around which the video's discussion revolves, with different psychologists offering their own interpretations and theories on what constitutes the self.

💡William James

William James is mentioned as a foundational figure in American psychology. His concept of the self includes the 'Me' and the 'I', which represent the objective experience and the subjective thinker, respectively. James's theories provide a framework for understanding the self as both an experiencing entity and a thinker.

💡David Lester

David Lester's work is highlighted in the video for his concept of the 'Multiple versus Unified Self'. Lester suggests that individuals construct different selves for different roles and relationships, which can be challenging, especially for adolescents trying to form a cohesive identity.

💡Donald Winnicott

Donald Winnicott's theory of the 'True versus False Self' is discussed in the video. According to Winnicott, the self is composed of a genuine self that needs protection and a false self that is presented to the world to fit in or impress others. This concept helps explain the dynamics of self-presentation and the struggle for authenticity.

💡Carl Rogers

Carl Rogers is mentioned as a psychologist whose work will be discussed in the next part of the series. Rogers is known for his humanistic approach to psychology, focusing on the self as a dynamic, ever-changing entity that is shaped by experiences and the individual's perception of them.

💡Sigmund Freud

Freud's contribution to the understanding of the self is mentioned with a focus on the 'unconscious'. Freud believed that much of the self operates outside of conscious awareness and influences behavior and personality. His theories add a layer of complexity to the discussion of self by introducing the idea that not all aspects of the self are accessible to the individual.

💡Albert Bandura

Albert Bandura's concept of the self as a proactive agent is briefly mentioned. Bandura's social cognitive theory posits that individuals are not just passive recipients of their environments but actively shape their experiences and identities. This perspective emphasizes the self's role in self-regulation and behavior change.

💡Carl Jung

Carl Jung's concept of the self as the 'central archetype' is referenced. Jung believed that the self represents a unifying force and the ultimate goal of individuation in an individual's psychological development. His theories contribute to the video's exploration of the self as a complex, holistic construct.

💡Personal Identity

Personal identity is a recurring theme in the video, referring to the unique characteristics that make up an individual's self-concept. It is discussed in the context of how different psychological theories attempt to explain and define the components that constitute a person's sense of self.

💡Adolescence

Adolescence is highlighted as a critical period for the formation of the self. The video discusses how adolescents face the challenge of managing multiple selves in different social contexts, which contributes to their struggle for a unified self-identity.

Highlights

Introduction to Lesson Three of Chapter One: Psychological Perspective of the Self.

Objectives: Identify different psychological ideas about the self, create a personal definition, and analyze the effects of various factors on self-formation.

Discussion on the philosophical and sociological perspectives before delving into the psychological perspective of the self.

Zhangyani and Tari's 2014 definition of the self as a sense of personal identity.

Introduction to the seven psychologists whose theories will be discussed.

William James, the father of American psychology, and his concept of the self.

James' distinction between the 'Me' and the 'I', representing the empirical and pure ego aspects of the self.

The 'Me' self includes material, social, and spiritual aspects of an individual's experiences.

The 'I' self is concerned with the existence of the self, involving thinking and feeling.

James' quote on the self as the sum total of all that a person can call his own.

David Lester's concept of multiple versus unified self and its implications for different roles and relationships.

Challenges adolescents face in coping with multiple selves and the struggle for a unified self.

Donald Winnicott's theory of the true and false self, and the function of the self to protect the true self.

The tendency to create a false self to impress others or belong to a group.

The importance of showing one's true self and the challenges associated with it.

Question for online discussion: Have you ever experienced hiding your true self and why?

Upcoming discussion on Carl Rogers and his self theory in the next video.

Closing remarks and invitation for questions from the students.