Psychology of the Self

William James

First scientist to create a systematic model of the self, introducing concepts like the I-self and me-self.

I-self

The self as the subject, the knower that thinks and feels.

Me-self

The self as the object, including personality traits and self-concept.

Self-agency

The sense of authorship over one's thoughts and actions.

Self-awareness

Appreciation of one’s internal states, needs, thoughts, and emotions.

Self-coherence

A stable sense of self as a bounded entity separate from others.

Self-continuity

The sense that one remains the same person over time.

Material self

The least important aspect of self, including bodily self and possessions.

Social self

The part of self recognized by others, varying in different roles.

Spiritual self

The most important aspect of self comprising moral judgments and beliefs.

Symbolic interactionism

Theoretical approach emphasizing social interactions in shaping the self.

Looking-glass self

Cooley's concept describing how we form our self-image based on the perceptions of others.

Habitual self

The self developed through habits and interactions with others.

Accommodating self

Self that adjusts behaviors by imitating others for approval.

Generalized other

The perspective of society as a whole that individuals adopt.

Infantile amnesia

Inability to remember events from early childhood before age 2 or 3.

Autobiographical memory

Explicit memories of specific events in one's personal past.

Directive function of memory

Using memories to guide thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Personal pronoun use

An indicator of self-recognition and development of self-knowledge.

MSR (mirror self-recognition)

The ability to recognize oneself in a mirror as an indication of self-awareness.

Cognitive development

The progression of mental skills and capabilities in understanding self and others.

Theory of mind

The ability to understand that others have different thoughts and beliefs.

Self-esteem

An individual's overall sense of personal value and self-worth.

Self-enhancement motive

Motivation to improve the positivity of one's self-conceptions.

Sociometer hypothesis

Theory that self-esteem is an internal gauge of social acceptance.

Positive illusions

Unrealistically positive self-evaluations.

False consensus effect

Overestimating the extent to which others share our opinions.

Unrealistic optimism

Seeing oneself as more likely to experience good events than others.

Downward comparison

Comparing oneself to someone worse off to enhance self-esteem.

Upward social comparison

Comparing oneself to someone better off, which can lead to self-improvement.

Self-handicapping

Creating obstacles to success to excuse potential failure.

Self-schema

Cognitive generalizations about the self that help organize self-related information.

Introspection

Looking inward to examine one's own thoughts and feelings.

Self-reference effect

Better recall of information when it relates to oneself.

Cognitive self-development

Progression of mental self-representations affecting memory and identity.

Social identity theory

Theory explaining how group membership forms part of self-concept.

Cognitive representations

Mental constructs about one’s attributes, experiences, and traits.

Narrative self-development

The process of forming a life story through social interactions.

Self-ideal

The vision of the best version of oneself that an individual aspires to become.

Social comparing theory

Theory explaining how individuals evaluate themselves in relation to others.

Feedback loop in self-assessment

The process whereby past experiences inform current self-evaluation.

Vicarious self-perception

Forming self-views based on the observations of others' reflections.

Emotional self-awareness

Understanding one's emotional states and their impact on behavior.

Self-presentation

Strategies individuals use to influence how they are perceived by others.

Self-verification

Seeking confirmation of one’s self-concept in interactions.

Self-improvement

The desire to be better than one's current self, often through setting goals.

Motivational function of the self

Driving individual behavior towards goal achievement.

Reflective appraisal

Evaluations by others that impact self-esteem.

Relational self-representation

The portrayal of self-concept in various social contexts.

Cultural influences on self-esteem

How different societies shape individual self-worth and perceptions.

Life narratives

Stories individuals tell about their lives to make sense of experiences.

Self-continuity in memory

How past memories are integrated into the current understanding of self.

Childhood self-concept

Initial formation of self-identity in early years reflecting immediate attributes.

Adolescent self-concept

Development of more complex, abstract notions of self during teenage years.

Consistency of self-esteem

The stability of self-worth perceptions across different contexts.

Sources of self-esteem

Various elements contributing to one's overall feeling of self-worth.

Implications of low self-esteem

Effects that arise from negative self-perceptions.

Holistic view of the self

Looking at the self from a complete and integrated perspective.

Identity crisis

A period of uncertainty about one's identity leading to feelings of confusion.

Role conflict in self-identity

The struggle to balance multiple roles and their impact on self-perception.

Temporal self-continuity

Recognizing one’s self across different life stages and experiences.

Self-acceptance

Recognizing and appreciating one’s own worth and individuality.

Agency in self-concept

The capacity to act independently and make one’s own choices.

Cognitive dissonance

The discomfort from holding contradictory beliefs or values.

Ethical self-presentation

Constructing an identity that aligns with ethical standards and societal norms.

Memory reconsolidation

The process of re-storing memories, affecting how they are recalled later.

Flashbulb memories

Vivid, detailed memories of significant events influencing self-concept.

The role of language in self-awareness

Language as a tool for reflecting on and conceptualizing the self.

Psychological ownership

The feeling of possession over one’s thoughts, beliefs, and identity.

Adaptive functions of self-knowledge

Ways that understanding oneself can aid in navigation through life challenges.

Narrative identity

The internalized story of self that blends past, present, and imagined future.

Comparative self-evaluation

Evaluating oneself in relation to others' standards or achievements.

Existential anxiety

The fear stemming from the awareness of one’s mortality.

Cognitive restructuring

Changing negative thought patterns to improve self-esteem and outlook.

Therapeutic strategies for self-esteem

Approaches aimed at bolstering individual self-value.

Self-investment

Efforts made to enhance personal qualities and self-image.

Moral self-identity

How one's ethical beliefs shape their self-perception and actions.

Cognitive-based interventions

Techniques designed to alter thought processes affecting self-concept.

Social validation of self

The affirmation and acknowledgment of one’s identity by those around.

Self-concept clarity

The extent to which self-beliefs are clearly defined and stable.

Learning from feedback

Using reflective input from others to adjust and improve self-perceptions.

Interpersonal feedback loops

The interactions that reinforce or challenge one's self-views.

Character strengths

Positive traits that individuals identify with and seek to express.

Resilience in self-esteem

The ability to maintain a positive self-image despite challenges.

Role of cultural narratives

Societal stories that help shape individual self-concept and aspirations.

Self-regulation

Controlling one's emotions and behaviors in accordance with self-standards.

Affective forecasting

Predicting future feelings based on current self-beliefs.

Flow experiences

High engagement states that enhance self-perception and satisfaction.

Narrative therapy

Using storytelling to help reshape self-concept and personal identity.

Identity integration

The blending of various aspects of self into a coherent whole.

Personality coherence

Consistency in behavior that reflects one's self-concept.

Cumulative autobiographical memory

The aggregation of significant life experiences forming one's identity.

Constructive self-talk

Positive internal dialogue that supports self-esteem and personal growth.

Emotional regulation

Managing emotional responses that affect self-view.

Social comparison apps

Tools or platforms that allow for ongoing assessment of self against others.