Situational questions (undself)

🏛 Philosophy

Q1: You promised to review but end up scrolling TikTok for hours. How would Plato explain this using his 3-part soul?

A: Appetite (desire to relax) pulls you to TikTok, Reason (logic) reminds you to study, and Spirit (emotion) feels guilty or pressured. Balance = real discipline.

Q2: If someone loses all their memories in an accident, is it still the same person according to John Locke?

A: No, Locke says personal identity = memory + consciousness. Without memories, their identity is not the same person.

Q3: You start doubting if life is real or just a dream. How would Descartes answer this?

A: Descartes says, “I think, therefore I am.” As long as you think and doubt, you exist. Thinking itself proves your being.

Q4: Your personality feels different now compared to high school. What would David Hume say?

A: Hume would say that’s normal — there’s no fixed “self,” just a bundle of changing perceptions and feelings over time.

Q5: A friend says, “Who you are doesn’t matter, it’s how you act.” Which philosopher agrees?

A: Gilbert Ryle — self is behavior, not hidden soul or mind.

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👥 Sociology

Q6: You thought you were shy, but classmates keep calling you “the funny one.” How would Cooley’s Looking Glass Self explain your new self-image?

A: You start believing you’re funny because that’s how others see you. Self-image = reflection of others’ perception.

Q7: Your parents expect you to take medicine, but you want to pursue art. How does Mead’s “I and Me” explain the conflict?

A: “Me” = the social side (parents’ expectations), “I” = your personal desires (art). The self develops from balancing the two.

Q8: You discovered your friends know some things about you that you didn’t notice yourself. Which concept explains this?

A: Johari Window — “Blind Spot” (others know, but you don’t).

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🧠 Psychology

Q9: You fail an exam and say, “The teacher just hates me,” even though you didn’t study. Which defense mechanism is this?

A: Projection — blaming others instead of yourself.

Q10: You got scolded by your boss. You go home and yell at your sibling. Which defense mechanism?

A: Displacement — redirecting anger to a safer target.

Q11: You got anxious before an exam and suddenly acted childish, whining and stomping. Which defense mechanism?

A: Regression — going back to an earlier stage of behavior.

Q12: You had a crush on your best friend’s partner, but instead of confessing, you poured feelings into writing poetry. Which defense mechanism?

A: Sublimation — turning negative urges into creative/positive output.

Q13: A traumatic childhood memory is forgotten, even if it really happened. Which defense mechanism?

A: Repression — unconscious forgetting.

Q14: You crave cake but you’re dieting. How would Freud’s Id, Ego, and Superego argue?

A: Id = “Eat it all now.”

Superego = “No, it’s unhealthy.”

Ego = “Just one slice to compromise.”

Q15: You feel like everyone in school is watching your every move, even when they’re not. What concept is this?

A: Imaginary Audience (common in teens).

Q16: You see yourself as hardworking, responsible, and kind. Which concept explains this?

A: Self-Concept (mental representation of who you are).

Q17: You feel proud after accomplishing something big and start valuing yourself more. Which concept?

A: Self-Esteem (how much you value yourself).

Q18: Your dream is to be confident, but in reality, you’re shy. According to Carl Rogers, what do you need?

A: Congruence between Ideal Self and Real Self → leads to self-actualization.

Q19: You compare yourself with a top student and feel motivated to study more. What type of social comparison?

A: Upward Social Comparison.

Q20: You compare yourself with a failing classmate and feel better about your performance. What type of comparison?

A: Downward Social Comparison.

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🌏 Anthropology & Culture

Q21: You grew up in the US (independent), then moved to Japan (group-oriented). What cultural difference explains this shift?

A: Individualism (Western) vs Collectivism (Eastern).

Q22: You feel jealous scrolling through social media. How would Buddhism help you deal with this?

A: Detach from cravings/attachments, let go of the self → reduces suffering.

Q23: A Hindu says, “What I do now will affect my next life.” What belief is this?

A: Karma (Hinduism).

Q24: You realize your identity is tied to your relationships and family, not just yourself. Which Eastern thought explains this?

A: Confucianism → self defined by harmony in relationships (filial piety, respect).

Q25: You understand that self can’t exist without others — light vs dark, yin vs yang. Which Eastern philosophy?

A: Taoism — opposites define each other.