Understanding the Self: Sociological, Philosophical, and Psychological Perspectives

A comprehensive vocabulary flashcard set covering the sociological, philosophical, and psychological theories of the self as detailed in the lecture transcript.

Moi

According to Marcel Mauss, a person's sense of who he is, including his body, basic identity, and biological givenness.

Personne

According to Marcel Mauss, the social concept of what it means to be who one is, including how to behave based on expectations and influences from family, religion, or nationality.

Looking-Glass Self

A social psychological concept created in $1902$ by Charles Horton Cooley stating that a person's self-identity grows out of interpersonal interactions and the perceptions of others.

The "Me" (Mead)

In George Herbert Mead's theory, the social self formed by internalizing the attitudes of others; it disciplines the "I" by holding it back from breaking community laws.

The "I" (Mead)

In George Herbert Mead's theory, the individual's novel or creative response to the "Me" and the attitudes of society.

Preparatory Stage

The first stage of Mead's role-taking theory (birth to $3\,\text{years old}$) where children mimic or imitate those around them without understanding what they are doing.

Play Stage

The second stage of Mead's role-taking theory ($3$ to $5\,\text{years old}$) where children learn interaction through pretend play and begin taking the perspective of significant others.

Game Stage

The final stage of Mead's role-taking theory ($6$ to $9\,\text{years old}$) where children adhere to rules of games and take into account the expectations of the generalized other.

Significant Others

Individuals who have important, direct relationships with a person, such as parents, family members, teachers, and peers.

Generalized Other

The viewpoint of the social group at large that influences an individual's self-behavior and social understanding.

Interpsychological Level

In Lev Vygotsky's theory, the social level where learning first occurs through interaction and connection with other people.

Intrapsychological Level

In Lev Vygotsky's theory, the individual level where social learning is internalized, leading to cognitive development and self-reflection.

Elementary Mental Functions

Innate biological abilities present in infants for intellectual development, consisting of sensation, hunger, memory, and basic attention.

Higher Mental Functions

Advanced cognitive processes (such as language, cultivated memory, focused attention, and perception) that develop through social interaction and environment.

More Knowledgeable Other (MKO)

Anyone who possesses a superior level of ability, skill, or understanding regarding a specific task or concept compared to the learner.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

The area where a learner receives sensitive instruction and guidance from an MKO to independently master new skills.

Self-Identity in Postmodern Societies (Lanuza)

Filipino sociologist Gerry Lanuza's view that postmodern self-identity continuously changes due to social contexts, technology, and globalization.

Prestige Symbols (Baudrillard)

Jean Baudrillard's concept that individuals in postmodern societies achieve self-identity by consuming goods for prestige and status rather than utility.

Socratic View of the Self

Socrates' philosophy that the self is synonymous with an immortal soul, and that an unexamined life is not worth living.

Physical Realm vs. Ideal Realm

Socrates' dualistic reality: the physical realm (the body) is transient and imperfect, whereas the ideal realm (the soul) is eternal, unchanging, and perfect.

Socratic Method

Also called introspection; a method of carefully examining one's thoughts and emotions to gain self-knowledge.

Plato's Tripartite Soul

Plato's model dividing the soul into three elements: Reason (logic), Spirit or Passion (emotion), and Physical Appetite (basic desires).

Aristotle's View of the Soul

Philosophy stating that the body and soul are unified; the soul is the Form and essence of the body and cannot exist without it.

Vegetative, Sentient, and Rational Souls

Aristotle's classification of souls: Vegetative (physical growth), Sentient (desires and emotions), and Rational (intellect unique to human beings).

St. Augustine's View of the Self

Integration of Platonic philosophy and Christianity, stating that the immortal soul defines the human person and self-knowledge is achieved through knowing God.

Cartesian Dualism

Rene Descartes' proposition that the self consists of a nonmaterial thinking self (soul) and a material physical body governed by physical laws.

Tabula Rasa

John Locke's concept that the human mind at birth is a blank slate, shaped entirely by sensory experiences.

Bundle Theory (David Hume)

David Hume's claim that there is no fixed self, only a continuous bundle or collection of differing perceptions, impressions, and ideas.

Constructed Self (Immanuel Kant)

Immanuel Kant's theory that the self actively organizes and synthesizes sensory perceptions to construct its own intelligible reality.

Freud's Mental Iceberg

Sigmund Freud's model of the mind divided into the conscious level (thoughts/perceptions), subconscious/preconscious level (memories/knowledge), and unconscious level (repressed drives/fears).

Behavioral Self (Gilbert Ryle)

Gilbert Ryle's concept summarized by "I act therefore I am," asserting that the self is simply a pattern of bodily behavior and behavioral dispositions.

Eliminative Materialism (Paul Churchland)

Paul Churchland's view that the self is inseparable from the physical brain and body physiology, denying the existence of an imaginary mind.

Embodied Subjectivity

Maurice Merleau-Ponty's principle that all knowledge of the self and world is based on subjective experience, meaning the self cannot be objectified.

I-Self vs. Me-Self

William James' distinction where the "I-Self" is the thinking self (pure ego), and the "Me-Self" is the empirical self composed of material, social, and spiritual aspects.

Real Self vs. Ideal Self

Carl Rogers' concepts: the Real Self is the awareness of "what I am," while the Ideal Self is the image of "what I should or want to be."

Congruence and Incongruence

In Rogers' theory, congruence occurs when the ideal self aligns closely with the real self leading to happiness, while incongruence causes dissatisfaction.

True Self vs. False Self

Donald Winnicott's distinction: the True Self is authentic without pretension, while the False Self functions to protect the true self and impress others.

Human Agency (Albert Bandura)

The human ability to act proactive and intentionally, characterized by intentionality, forethought, self-reactiveness, and self-reflectiveness.

Self-Efficacy

An individual's belief in their own capability to perform specific tasks, serving as the foundation for human agency.

Archetype (Carl Jung)

A universal thought form or innate predisposition residing in the collective unconscious to respond to the world in certain ways.

Persona Archetype

Carl Jung's archetype referring to the social roles or masks that individuals present to the outside world.

Shadow Archetype

Carl Jung's archetype representing the dark side of the psyche containing repressed, socially unacceptable thoughts.

Anima and Animus

Jungian archetypes representing gendered psychological dimensions: the Anima is the feminine side of the male psyche, and the Animus is the masculine side of the female psyche.

Id, Ego, and Superego

Freud's structural model of personality: Id operates on pleasure, Ego operates on reality, and Superego acts as the moral conscience.

Oral Stage

Freud's first psychosexual stage (birth to $1\,\text{year}$) where pleasure is centered on sucking and biting; fixations cause incorporative or aggressive personality traits.

Anal Stage

Freud's second psychosexual stage (around $2\,\text{years old}$) focused on body waste elimination; fixations result in anal retentive or expulsive traits.

Phallic Stage

Freud's third psychosexual stage ($3$ to $6\,\text{years old}$) characterized by genital exploration and anatomical curiosity.

Latency Stage

Freud's fourth psychosexual stage ($7$ to $12\,\text{years old}$) where sexual energy is repressed and redirected toward schooling and hobbies.

Genital Stage

Freud's final psychosexual stage (adolescence to adulthood) where pleasure is derived from mature sexual relationships.

Psychosocial Stages of Development

Erik Erikson's $8$-stage developmental framework where individuals face distinct life crises (such as Trust vs. Mistrust) to develop core ego virtues.