Key Concepts: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Theories of Self & Agency

30 vocabulary flashcards covering core terms from Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and modern psychological theories of self and agency.

Hinduism

Ancient religion that sees life as a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, with the goal of breaking free by realizing one’s true self (Atman).

Karma

The law of cause and effect: good actions bring good results, bad actions bring bad results.

Dharma

One’s duty—living morally and rightly for self, family, and society.

Moksha

Freedom from the cycle of rebirth (Samsara); union with ultimate reality (Brahman).

Samsara

The continuous cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth.

Atman

The true, deathless self or soul beyond body and mind.

Maya

Illusion—the world and ego that hide one’s true self.

Buddhism

Path that aims to end suffering by seeing impermanence and letting go of attachment; teaches no fixed self.

Anatta

Doctrine of “no-self”; there is no permanent, unchanging soul.

Skandhas (Five Aggregates)

The five parts—form, sensation, perception, mental formations, consciousness—that together create the sense of self.

Anicca

Impermanence; everything, including thoughts and feelings, constantly changes.

Dukkha

Suffering or dissatisfaction caused by clinging to what changes.

Nirvana

Enlightenment; liberation from suffering through wisdom and non-attachment.

Taoism

Philosophy of living in harmony with nature’s flow (the Tao).

Wu Wei

Effortless action—acting naturally without force.

Non-Attachment and Simplicity

Letting go of ego and excessive desires; living simply and contentedly.

Interconnectedness of All Things

View that people, animals, and nature form one connected whole.

William James – “Me” Self

The known, objective self: traits, roles, and facts one can describe about oneself.

William James – “I” Self

The knower or subject that is aware of and reflects on the “Me.”

Human Agency (Albert Bandura)

Capacity to plan, act, adjust, and reflect to shape one’s life, rather than passively reacting.

Intentionality

Planning and setting goals before acting.

Forethought

Thinking ahead about likely outcomes and guiding actions accordingly.

Self-Reactiveness

Monitoring and adjusting behavior to stay on track toward goals.

Self-Reflectiveness

Evaluating past actions and learning from the results.

Personal Agency

Acting on one’s own to influence outcomes.

Proxy Agency

Enlisting others’ help to achieve desired results.

Collective Agency

Coordinated group action to reach shared goals.

Real Self (Carl Rogers)

Who a person actually is right now, with current traits and feelings.

Ideal Self (Carl Rogers)

Who a person wants or believes they ought to be.

Self-Concept (Carl Rogers)

The fluid collection of self-schemas—beliefs, traits, and goals—that evolves with experience.