P1. GEN 002 Understanding the Self

Socrates

● Often considered the father of Western philosophy, famously declared that "the

unexamined life is not worth living."

● He emphasized the importance of self-reflection and critical thinking in the pursuit of

truth and wisdom.

Plato

• He believed that the self is composed of two parts: the rational soul and the irrational

appetites.

• He likened the soul to a charioteer driving a chariot pulled by two horses, representing

reason and desire.

Aristotle

● He believed that the self is a harmonious integration of various faculties, reason,

emotion, and perception.

● He advocated for eudaimonia, or flourishing, achieved through the balanced

development of these faculties.

● integrated Christian theology with philosophical inquiry to explore the nature

of the self.

● He viewed the self as flawed due to original sin, a consequence of Adam and Eve's

disobedience, but capable of redemption through divine grace.

R

● proposed a dualistic view of the self, distinguishing between mind and body.

● He famously asserted, "I think, therefore I am", highlighting the primacy of

consciousness in defining the self.

Behavioral Expectation

The anticipated ways individuals are expected to act in particular social

contexts, often influenced by social norms and cultural values.

Cultural expectations

The societal standards and norms that influence behavior and attitudes within a

cultural context.

Feral children

Children who have lived isolated from human contact from a very young age, with little

or no experience of human care, behavior, or language.

Interpersonal relationship

The connections and interactions between two or more people.

Isolation

The state of being separated from others, which can significantly impact social and

psychological development.

Looking glass self

A social psychological concept by Charles Cooley, suggesting that a person's self-

concept is influenced by their perceptions of how others view them.

family

is generally regarded as a primary social institution.

education

serves as a vital social institution tasked with

educating a society's youth in essential academic knowledge, learning

skills, and cultural norms.

religion

functions as a social institution that offers explanations

and interpretations for various aspects of life that may seem mysterious.

government

is an institution tasked with formulating and enforcing

societal rules and managing external relations with other societies.

economy

functions as the institution overseeing the production

and distribution of goods and services, crucial for meeting the needs of

individuals across societies.

enculturation

is the process by which individuals internalize the

cultural norms, values, beliefs, and behaviors of their own society or

community. This process starts early in life and continues through

interactions with family, peers, educational institutions, and other

social institutions.

acculturation

involves the exchange and integration of cultural

elements between different cultural groups. It occurs when

individuals or groups from one culture come into contact with and adopt

elements of another culture, leading to cultural change and adaptation.

assimilation

refers to the process by which individuals or groups

adopt the cultural norms, values, and practices of a dominant or

host culture, often at the expense of their own cultural identity.

George Herbert Mead (1863-1931)

formulated the theory of social

behaviorism to explain the influence of

social experiences on an individual's

personality development.

Theory of Social Behaviorism

offers

valuable insights into how social interactions

shape our sense of self and identity.

Mead's Theory of Social Behaviorism

emphasizes the importance of

social interaction in the development of the self. According to him,

the self is not innate but emerges through social experiences and

interactions with others.

Symbolic Interactionism

A key idea in Mead's theory. It states that people develop their sense of self

through interpreting symbols, such as language and gestures, in social settings. For example, words and

body language help us understand each other and ourselves.

● The "I": It is the part of you that is spontaneous and acts on impulse.

● The "Me": It is the part of you that is shaped by society's rules and expectations. Together, they shape

how you see yourself and your role in society.

● Role-Taking: The ability to see things from another person's perspective. By imagining how others think

The "Me"

It is the part of you that is shaped by society's rules and expectations. Together, they shape

how you see yourself and your role in society.

Role-Taking

The ability to see things from another person's perspective. By imagining how others think

Albert Bandura (December 4, 1925 –

July 26, 2021)

is a famous psychologist

who created the Social Cognitive

Theory (SCT).

Social Cognitive

Theory

This theory explains how

people learn and behave through a mix of

their own thoughts, the actions they take,

and the world around them.

Reciprocal Determinism

● Your behavior, your personal thoughts and feelings, and

your environment all influence each other.

● Your actions are shaped by both what’s around you and

what’s inside you.

Observational Learning (Modeling):

● Learning by watching others.

● There are four steps:

1. Attention: Paying attention to what others are doing.

2. Retention: Remembering what you saw.

3. Reproduction: Being able to do the same thing yourself.

4. Motivation: Wanting to copy the behavior.

Self-Efficacy

● It is believing in your ability to do something.

● If you think you can do something, you’re more likely to try

and keep trying, even if it’s hard.

Outcome Expectations

● It is thinking about what will happen if you do something.

● These thoughts help you decide whether or not to do

something.

Self-Regulation

Controlling your behavior to reach your goals. It includes:

Self-Reflective Capability

Thinking about your own thoughts and actions.

Proxy Agency

Getting help from others to achieve your personal goals, showing the importance of

social support.

Collective Efficacy

Believing that a group can work together to achieve shared goals, emphasizing

teamwork and collaboration.

carl rogers

was a humanistic psychologist who had this assumption that for a person to "grow" he must

need an environment that can provide him with openness and self-disclosure.

openness and self disclosure

This means that people should feel free to express themselves authentically

without fear of judgment or rejection.

Basic Motive - Self-Actualization

actualization refers to the process of realizing one's full potential, talents, and abilities, and striving to become

the best version of oneself. It involves pursuing

congruence and balance

This means

being in harmony or alignment between one's real self (who they currently are) and their ideal self (who they

aspire to be).

individualism

is a philosophy of life emphasizing the priority of person’s need over group, an emphasis on

individuality.

collectivism

represents preference for a tightly knit social network in which a person can expect their family

and other relatives of the social group to look after them in exchanges for unquestioned loyalty.

collectivist self-concepts

where individuals

prioritize the needs and goals of the group over personal desires. They value group harmony.

group identity

Individuals derive their sense of self from their roles within the larger social context, such as

family, community, or nation, rather than solely from personal attributes.

Focus on the Individual vs. Focus on the Group

Western individualist cultures prioritize individual rights,

freedoms, and self-expression, while Eastern collectivist cultures prioritize group cohesion, social harmony,

and interdependence.

Independence vs. Interdependence

Individualist self-concepts emphasize independence and autonomy,

whereas collectivist self-concepts emphasize interdependence, cooperation, and mutual support.

Self-Expression vs. Social Obligation

In Western cultures, individuals are encouraged to express their

opinions and pursue personal goals, while in Eastern cultures, individuals may prioritize social obligations and

responsibilities to maintain group harmony.