UNDERSTADING THE SELF MODULE 1: THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES

UNIT 4: THE SELF ACCORDING TO PSYCHOLOGY

(The Self as Cognitive Construct)

LEARNING COMPASS
- Identify the different ideas in psychology about the “self”;
- Create their own definition of the “self” based on the definitions from
psychology;
- Analyze the effects of various factors identified in psychology in the formation of
the “self”.

INTRODUCTION

As seen from the previous lessons, every field of study, at least in the social sciences,
have their own research, definition, and conceptualization of self and identity. Some are
similar while some specific only in their field. Each field also has thousands of research on
self and identity as well as related or synonymous terms. The trend of the lessons also
seems to define the concept of the “self” from a larger context (example: culture and
society) down to the individual. However, it must be pointed out that modern researches
acknowledge the contributions of each field and this is not some sort of a nurture vs.
nature, society/culture vs. individual/brain, other social sciences vs. psychology debate.
Psychology may focus on the individual and the cognitive functions but it does not
discount the context and other possible factors that affect the individual. For students
who take up psychology, discussions on theories, development, etc. actually takes at least
one semester and still there are more to be known about the concept of “self”. The
following lesson provides an overview of the themes of psychology regarding the said
concept.

Let’s begin!
ACTIVITY III
This activity has two parts that try to compare how we look at ourselves against how
people perceived us depending on how we present ourselves to them. For the first part,
list ten to fifteen (10-15) qualities or things around the left circle representing you that
you think defines who you are.
 UNDERSTADING THE SELF MODULE 1: THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES

For the second part, go around and ask the people around you like family, your friends
or classmates to write on the right circle things that they see you do or hear you say.

We’re on our way!

ANALYSIS
Compare what you wrote about your self to those written by other people. What
aspects are similar and which are not? What aspects are always true to you? What
aspects are sometimes true or circumstantial? What aspects do you think are not really
part of your personality? Write your answers below.
 UNDERSTADING THE SELF MODULE 1: THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES

Let’s dig deeper

ABSTRACTION
In confidence or in an attempt to avoid further analytical discussions, a lot of people
say “I am who I am.” Yet this statement still begs the question “If you are who you are,
then who are you that makes you who you are?”
As mentioned earlier there are various definitions of the “self” and other similar or
interchangeable concepts in psychology. Simply put, “self” is “the sense of personal
identity and of who we are as individuals.
William James was one of the earliest psychologists to study the self and he
conceptualized the self as having two aspects – the “I” and the “me”. The I is the
thinking, acting, and feeling self. The “me” on the other hand is the physical
characteristics as well as psychological capabilities that makes who you are. Carl Rogers
theory of personality also used the same terms, the “I” as the one who acts and decides
while the “me” is what you think or feel about yourself as an object.
Other concepts similar to self is identity and self-concept. Identity is composed of
one’s personal characteristics, social roles and responsibilities, as well as affiliations that
defines who one is. Self-concept is basically what comes to your mind when you are
asked about who you are.
Self, identity, and self-concept are not fixed in one time frame. For example, when
asked about who you are, you can say “I was a varsity player in Grade 5 which pertains to
the past, “ a college student” which maybe the present, and “a future politician” which is
the future. They are not also fixed for life nor are they ever-changing at every moment.
Think of a malleable metal, strong and hard but can be bent and molded in other shapes.
Think about water, it can take any shape of the container, it can be solid, liquid, or gas
form, but at its core, it is still the same elements.
 UNDERSTADING THE SELF MODULE 1: THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES

Carl Rogers captured this idea in his concept of self-schema or our own organized
system or collection of knowledge about who we are. Imagine an organized list or a
diagram similar to the one below:

Self

Family
Self Religion

Self

The schema is not limited to the example above. It may also include your interests,
your work, your course, your age, your name, your physical characteristics, etc. as you
grow and adapt to the changes around you, they also change. But they are not passive
receivers, they actively shape and affect how you see, think, and feel about things object.
Theories generally see the self and identity as mental constructs, created and re-
created in memory. Current researches point the frontal lobe of the brain as the specific
area in the brain associated with processes concerning the self.
Several psychologists, especially during the field’s earlier development, followed this
trend of thought, looking deeper into the mind of the person to theorize about the self,
identity, self-concept, and in turn, one’s personality. The most influential of them is
Sigmund Freud. Basically Freud saw the self, its mental processes, and one’s behavior as
the results of the interaction between the id, the Ego, and the Superego.
 UNDERSTADING THE SELF MODULE 1: THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES

How far have we gone?

APPLICATION AND ASSESSMENT
Do a research and list (10) things to do in order to boost self-esteem of improve your
self-concept. Cite your source. Analyze which of those tips are more likely to backfire and
make someone conceited or narcissistic and revise them in order to make the statements
both helpful to the individual as well as society in general.

Walk the extra mile

Keep a journal. Write a minimum of 20 sentences in a short bond paper, what is your
insight about this particular topic. This will be your third entry in your journal about the
self.

REFERENCES:
Alaba, et. al (2018) Understanding the Self. First Edition. Rex Book Store, Inc.
Sampaloc, Metro Manila. ISBN: 978-971-23-8670-1
Otig, et. al (2018) A Holistic Approach in Understanding THE SELF. Mutya Publishing
House, Inc. Malabon City, Metro Manila. ISBN: 978-971-821-744-3