GEN002: Understanding the Self Prelim Reviewer

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the philosophical, sociological, anthropological, and psychological perspectives of the self as presented in the lecture notes.

Socrates

The Father of Western Philosophy who famously stated, “The unexamined life is not worth living,” and focused on self-reflection and critical thinking.

Know Thyself

The Socratic goal of philosophy where understanding the self leads to enlightenment and the highest bliss.

Socratic Method

The process of achieving self-knowledge through dialogue, either between the soul and itself or between student and teacher.

Dualistic View of the Self (Plato)

The perspective that the self consists of two distinct parts: a Material Body and an Immaterial Mind/Soul.

Charioteer Metaphor

Plato's analogy where Reason guides and controls the two “horses” known as Will and Appetites.

Tripartite Division of the Soul

Plato's breakdown of the soul into Reason (The Charioteer), Will / Spirit (Horse $1$), and Appetites / Desires (Horse $2$).

Integration & Harmony (Aristotle)

The view that the self is a harmonious combination of reason, emotion, and perception rather than separate entities.

Knife Analogy

Aristotle’s explanation that the soul is the essence or activity of a being; if a knife were alive, “cutting” would be its soul.

Eudaimonia

A state of flourishing achieved through the balanced development of all faculties and moral/intellectual growth.

St. Augustine

A philosopher who merged Christian theology with philosophy, viewing the self as inherently flawed due to Original Sin.

Dual Struggle (St. Augustine)

The ongoing internal battle between the flesh (earthly desires) and the spirit (spiritual fulfillment).

René Descartes

Philosopher who proposed Mind-Body Dualism and used consciousness as the primary proof of existence.

Cogito, Ergo Sum

The Latin phrase for “I think, therefore I am,” signifying that the act of thinking proves one's existence.

Sociological Perspective

Analyzing the social world by focusing on how group dynamics and social interactions shape human behavior and attitudes.

Feral Children

Children who lived isolated from human contact, demonstrating how the absence of socialization impacts human development.

The Looking-Glass Self

Charles Horton Cooley’s concept that our self-concept is built on how we perceive others view us through a $3$-step process.

Anthropological Perspective

A holistic and comparative approach to human diversity that studies culture, biology, history, and language as interconnected forces.

Family

The primary unit of society and oldest social institution that acts as the primary socialization agent for identity.

Economic Institution

The social system of production, exchange, and distribution that dictates resource access and employment status.

Mead’s Theory of Social Behaviorism

The theory that the self is not innate but develops through social interaction and symbolic communication.

The “I” (Mead)

The active, spontaneous, impulsive, and un-socialized aspect of the self.

The “Me” (Mead)

The socialized aspect of the self that is shaped by social expectations, rules, and norms.

Role-Taking

The process of anticipating how others think or react by putting oneself in their perspective to foster empathy.

Reciprocal Determinism

Albert Bandura’s concept that behavior, internal cognitive factors, and environmental influences interact and influence each other.

Observational Learning (Modeling)

The learning process involving four stages: Attention, Retention, Reproduction, and Motivation.

Self-Efficacy

An individual's belief in their own ability to succeed in specific situations, which drives perseverance.

Outcome Expectations

The anticipated consequences of a behavior that influence an individual's decision to act.

Self-System

The cognitive structures used to perceive, evaluate, and regulate behavior according to Bandura.

Self-Regulation

The ability to control behavior through self-observation, judgmental processes, and self-response.

Proxy Agency

A capability of the self where an individual seeks external assistance or relies on others to achieve goals.

Collective Efficacy

The shared belief in a group’s combined ability to work toward common goals.