Understanding the Self Reviewer Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing philosophical, sociological, anthropological, psychological, cultural, and physical perspectives of the self.

Philosophy

Derived from the Greek words 'Philos' (Love) and 'Sophia' (Wisdom), meaning the love of knowledge or passion for learning.

Socratic Method

A method of inquiry instituted by Socrates used to test ideas through introspection and systematic questioning.

Rational Self (Plato)

The part of the soul located in the diaphragm that enables deep thinking, wise choices, and true understanding of eternal truths.

Spirited Self (Plato)

The part of the soul located in the brain that encompasses basic emotions such as love, anger, ambition, aggressiveness, and empathy.

Appetitive Self (Plato)

The part of the soul located in the heart that drives basic biological needs such as hunger, thirst, and sexual desire.

Argument by Analogy

St. Augustine's argument that because external bodies behave and are nourished like one's own body, one is justified in believing they have a similar mental life.

Cogito, Ergo Sum

Rene Descartes' dictum meaning 'I think, therefore I am,' asserting that the self is fundamentally a conscious, thinking being distinct from the physical body.

Tabula Rasa

John Locke's concept meaning 'blank slate,' describing the human mind at birth as lacking innate ideas, with all knowledge derived from experience.

Impressions (Hume)

The most strong and lively perceptions in David Hume's empiricism, which are directly experienced through sense data.

Ideas (Hume)

Less forcible and less lively mental perceptions that copy and reproduce sense data based on previously perceived impressions.

Bundle Theory

David Hume's theory describing the self or person as a collection or bundle of rapidly changing perceptions in perpetual flux.

Apperception

The mental process identified by Immanuel Kant by which a person makes sense of an idea by assimilating it into an existing body of ideas.

Inner Self (Kant)

The component of the self comprised of rational intellect and psychological states.

Outer Self (Kant)

The component of the self comprised of the physical senses and interaction with the outer physical world.

Id

The instinctive and primitive layer of the mind in Freud's theory that centers on primal desires and demands immediate satisfaction.

Ego

The moderator between the Id and Superego operating on the reality principle to ensure desires are satisfied in realistic ways.

Superego

The moral aspect of personality in Freud's theory that represents conscience and the ego ideal, motivating moral behavior.

Dogma of the Ghost in the Machine

Gilbert Ryle's rejection of the dualist distinction between mind and body, asserting there is no hidden soul entity inside the body.

Eliminative Materialism

Paul Churchland's view claiming that folk psychology or common-sense understanding of the mind is false and that an immaterial soul does not exist.

Embodied Subjectivity

Maurice Merleau-Ponty's concept emphasizing the physical body as the primary site of knowing and experiencing the world.

Industrialism (Giddens)

A characteristic of modernity involving social relations implied by the extensive use of material power and machinery in production.

Capitalism (Giddens)

A production system involving competitive product markets and the commodification (attaching a price tag to) of labor power.

Institutions of Surveillance

A characteristic of modernity marked by a massive increase in power and reach by government and institutional organizations.

Dynamism

The most evident characteristic of modern society, characterized by vigorous activity and rapid, continuous change.

Organic Groups

Naturally occurring social groups based on family ties and organic motivation, such as family and close friends.

Rational Groups

Purpose-driven social groups formed in modern societies based on shared self-interest, structure, and rational motivation.

Me Self (Mead)

The socialized, conventional aspect of the person that represents internalized societal expectations and attitudes.

I Self (Mead)

The spontaneous, subjective, creative, and active part of the self that reacts to the socialized 'Me'.

Cultural Relativism

Franz Boas' view that every culture must be understood on its own terms from within rather than ranked on an evolutionary ladder.

Historical Particularism

Franz Boas' view that every society has its own unique history without passing through universal or necessary stages.

Looking-Glass Self

Charles Cooley's concept describing how individuals shape their self-concept based on how they perceive others to view them.

Introspection

A reflective looking inward to examine one's own thoughts, feelings, and internal mental states.

Sensorimotor Stage

Jean Piaget's first cognitive stage (birth to $2$ years) where infants learn through sensory experience and initially lack object permanence.

Preoperational Stage

Piaget's second stage ($2$ to $7$ years) marked by language acquisition, symbolic play, egocentric thought, and a lack of the conservation principle.

Concrete Operational Stage

Piaget's third stage ($7$ to $12$ years) where children master conservation and apply logical reasoning to concrete ideas.

Formal Operational Stage

Piaget's fourth stage ($12+$ years) characterized by the capacity for abstract thinking and logical hypothetical reasoning.

Pure Ego (William James)

The 'I' self that knows who it is, serving as the indivisible thinking self that provides continuity through a stream of consciousness.

Empirical Self (William James)

The 'Me' self as an object of experience, divided into the Material Self, Social Self, and Spiritual Self.

Real Self (Rogers)

In Carl Rogers' humanistic theory, the actual person an individual is and how they behave in reality.

Ideal Self (Rogers)

In Carl Rogers' theory, the person an individual aspires to become, influenced by societal standards and personal values.

Congruence

The alignment or consistency between the Real Self and the Ideal Self, which fosters psychological health.

Experiential Self (Henriques)

In Gregg Henriques' Tripartite Model, the domain of self defined as the direct felt experience of being.

Private Self (Henriques)

In Gregg Henriques' model, the domain of self that verbally narrates internal events and interprets experiences.

Public Self (Henriques)

In Gregg Henriques' model, the domain of self displayed to the outer world during social interaction.

Cardinal Trait

In Gordon Allport's personality theory, a single dominant characteristic that directs most of a person's activities.

Central Trait

In Allport's theory, one of a core set of traits that make up the primary foundation of a person's personality.

Secondary Trait

In Allport's theory, traits that exert weaker influence and affect behavior in fewer specific situations.

Nurturing Parent Ego State

In Transactional Analysis, the internal voice of unconditional acceptance, hope, optimism, and self-soothing.

Critical Parent Ego State

In Transactional Analysis, the automatic ego state that monitors rules, standards, expectations, and 'shoulds/musts'.

Free Child Ego State

In Transactional Analysis, the spontaneous, emotive, creative, and in-the-moment part of the self.

Adapted Child Ego State

In Transactional Analysis, the part of the self that adjusts feelings and behavior based on past emotional drivers and environmental demands.

Mehrabian's Communication Model

Albert Mehrabian's rule stating that communication consists of $7$% verbal words, $38$% vocal tone, and $55$% visual body language.

True Self (Winnicott)

Donald Winnicott's concept of a sense of self rooted in spontaneous, authentic experience and the feeling of being real and alive.

False Self (Winnicott)

Donald Winnicott's concept of a defensive façade created due to inadequate early care, leaving a person feeling empty or inauthentic.

Individualism

A cultural dimension emphasizing personal autonomy, individual achievement, rights, and personal goal attainment over group desires.

Collectivism

A cultural dimension focusing on group cohesion, interdependence, social harmony, and fulfilling societal and family obligations.

Analytical Category of Self

Frank Johnson's term for the Western tendency to view reality as an aggregate or collection of individual parts.

Monotheistic Category of Self

Frank Johnson's term for a closed-system view of self structured around a single, unitary, omnipotent power framework.

Materialistic/Rationalistic Category of Self

Frank Johnson's category describing Western thought that discredits non-analytic-deductive modes of thinking.

Vedas

The earliest sacred writings in the East that depict a nondual universe and formed the basis of Hindu philosophy and Dharma.

Brahman

In Hindu philosophy, the divine universal consciousness encompassing the universe and existing within the self of all beings.

Four Noble Truths

Central teachings of Buddhism explaining suffering, its cause in desire, its cessation, and the Eightfold Path to liberation.

Theravada

The sect of Buddhism that adheres strictly to the exact original teachings of the Buddha.

Mahayana

The sect of Buddhism that grants importance to individual interpretation of Buddhist teachings.

Physical Self-Concept

An individual's subjective evaluation of their physical self, calculated as the combination of physical ability and physical appearance.

Halo Effect

A cognitive bias wherein an individual perceived as physically attractive is automatically assumed to possess favorable personality traits.

Kalaskagathas

An ancient Greek concept defined as being gorgeous to look at and consequently being a morally good person.

Sesh

An Egyptian hieroglyphic term for a makeup artist, literally translating 'to write' or 'to engrave'.

Heredity

The biological transmission of physical and genetic traits from parents to offspring.

Gene

The fundamental biological unit of heredity contained within chromosomes that carries specific genetic traits.

Genotype

The specific genetic information embedded within an organism's genes, determinable through blood testing.

Phenotype

The directly observable physical expression or manifestation of a genetic trait.

Maturation

The completion of physical growth and development of a genetic character within an organism over time.

Body Image

An individual's mental representation, thoughts, and feelings regarding their physical body and appearance.

Body Disconnect

The psychological separation of the self from the physical body, leading one to view the body as an object.