Understanding the Self – Philosophical and Sociological Perspectives (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the lecture notes on philosophical, sociological, and psychological perspectives of the self.

Philosophy

Love of wisdom; an inquisitive pursuit of truth about human existence across fields beyond science.

Self

The central focus of inquiry about identity, the soul, and what it means to be a person; interpreted differently by various theories.

Socrates

Self = soul; immortality of the soul; two realms (physical and ideal); the examined life and the Socratic method.

Plato

Self is an immortal soul; three-part soul: Reason, Appetite, Spirit; Theory of Forms (world of forms vs world of sense); harmony when Reason governs the other parts.

Aristotle

Soul as the essence of life; three kinds of souls (Vegetative, Sentient, Rational); rational soul enables virtue and flourishing.

St. Augustine

Soul is superior to the body; body and soul linked; knowledge of self arises from knowledge of God; faith and reason unite the self with God.

Descartes

Cogito, ergo sum; the thinking self proves existence; mind and body are distinct; the thinking self is non-material.

Cogito, ergo sum

Latin for I think, therefore I am; foundational claim of the thinking self's existence.

John Locke

Self/identity arises from conscious experience; tabula rasa at birth; memory and consciousness anchor personal identity.

David Hume

There is no single self; the self is a bundle of perceptions; impressions and ideas form personal identity.

Immanuel Kant

The self organizes experience; uses transcendental categories to make experience intelligible; self transcends sense.

Transcendental deduction of categories

Kant’s idea that the mind uses innate concepts to structure experience.

Sigmund Freud

Self is multi-layered (conscious, preconscious, unconscious); Id, Ego, Superego; reality vs pleasure principles; psychosexual stages.

Id

Primitive drives and desires governed by the pleasure principle.

Ego

Mediator between the id and reality, governed by the reality principle.

Superego

Conscience and moral judge; strives for perfection and can induce guilt.

Conscious self

Aware part of the self that thinks and acts rationally.

Unconscious

Part of the self containing instinctual drives and hidden memories.

Preconscious

Material that can be brought to mind with ease; between conscious and unconscious.

Gilbert Ryle

Self as a pattern of behavior; I act, therefore I am; mind is expressed through dispositions and actions.

Paul Churchland

Eliminative materialism; the self is brain-based; mind as a non-existent separate entity.

Maurice Merleau-Ponty

Self as embodied subjectivity; mind and body are unified; consciousness and perception shape experience.

Sociological Perspective

Self is a product of social interactions and institutions rather than biology.

Prestige Symbols

Goods consumed for social status or power rather than primary utility.

Looking-Glass Self

Self-concept formed by imagining how others perceive us and the resulting pride or shame.

Charles Horton Cooley

Originator of the Looking-Glass Self; self emerges through social reflection.

George Herbert Mead

Self develops through social interaction; I and Me; role-taking across stages.

I (Mead)

Subjective, spontaneous aspect of the self; impulsive and creative.

Me (Mead)

Objective aspect; internalized attitudes and expectations of others and society.

Preparatory Stage (Mead)

0–3 years; imitation without understanding; no true self.

Play Stage (Mead)

3–5 years; role-taking of significant others; development via symbols and language.

Game Stage (Mead)

Early school years; understanding multiple roles and the generalized other.

Generalized Other

Internalized attitudes and expectations of society guiding behavior.

Postmodern Individual

Identity continually shaped by consumption, context, technology, and globalization.

Jean Baudrillard

Critiques postmodern consumption; self-identity shaped by prestige symbols and media.

The Self in Sociology

Conscious identity formed and maintained through social interaction.

William James

Self divided into I-Self (thinking, pure ego) and Me-Self (empirical self with values and morals).

I-Self

The thinking, knowing part of the self; the mind or soul.

Me-Self

Empirical self; personal experiences and identity components like purpose and conscience.

Carl Rogers

Self-concept; real self vs ideal self; closer alignment yields self-fulfillment and self-actualization.

Real Self

What one is actually like; true capabilities and traits.

Ideal Self

What one aspires to be; goals and ambitions.

True Self

The authentic core of the self, as distinct from a defensive false presentation.

False Self

A defensive mask masking the true self to fit situations or please others.

Winnicott

True self vs False self; the false self protects the true self, especially in adolescence.

Albert Bandura

Self as proactive agent; agency across material, social, and spiritual domains; intentionality, forethought, self-regulation, self-reflectiveness.

Agency

Capability to influence one’s own actions and experiences.

Intentionality

Actions performed with purpose and aims.

Forethought

Ability to anticipate outcomes of actions.

Self-Reactiveness

Self-regulation and choosing actions.

Self-Reflectiveness

Capacity to reflect on thoughts and actions.

Carl Jung

Self as central archetype; persona, shadow, anima/animus; individual and collective unconscious.

Persona

Social mask or role presented to others.

Shadow

Repressed, unacceptable thoughts and impulses.

Anima

Feminine side of the male psyche.

Animus

Masculine side of the female psyche.

Archetypes

Universal patterns in the psyche influencing personality and development.

Erik Erikson

Eight psychosocial stages shaping identity across the lifespan.

Trust vs Mistrust

Infancy stage; secure care builds trust, poor care leads to mistrust.

Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt

Early childhood; independence and self-control vs overprotection and doubt.

Initiative vs Guilt

Preschool; developing initiative and responsibility; guilt if discouraged.

Industry vs Inferiority

Elementary years; mastering skills leads to industry; failure leads to inferiority.

Identity vs Role Confusion

Adolescence; forming a coherent identity; parental support aids resolution.

Intimacy vs Isolation

Early adulthood; forming intimate relationships; failure leads to isolation.

Generativity vs Stagnation

Middle adulthood; contributing to society and guiding the next generation.

Integrity vs Despair

Old age; reflecting on life with satisfaction or regret.

Genital Stage

Freud’s stage (adolescence onward) focusing on genital pleasure and mature sexual relationships.