Understanding the Self - Psychological Perspective of the Self Part 1

Summary

In 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.