Psychological Perspectives
Adulthood
Definition of Terms (Santrock, 2014)
The SELF
- consists of all the characteristics of a person
IDENTITY
- refers to who a person is, representing a synthesis, and integration
of self-understanding
PERSONALITY
- refers to the enduring personal characteristics of individuals,
encompasses the self, and one's identity.
SELF UNDERSTANDING
- is the cognitive representation of the self, the substance of self-
conceptions
- E.g. "She is a 22-year-old, single Catholic Filipina working student
passionate about animal rights"
- it is based on the roles we play and group membership
- provides underpinnings for the development of identity
a. Early Childhood
Self-understanding is characterized by: (Harter, 2006; 2012; 2013)
1. Using Concrete/Observable Descriptions (e.g., I can count/ABCs, I
live in a big house)
2. Physical Descriptions (e.g., I have brown hair, she has black hair,
I’m taller)
3. Unrealistic Positive Over-estimations 0f personal attributes
This is so because Young children…
a. Have difficulty in differentiating their desired and actual
competence;
b. Can’t yet generate ideal self distinguished from a real self; and
c. Rarely engaged in Social Comparison (ego centrism)
d. Have the inability to recognize that they can possess opposite
attributes
Late Childhood
Older Children start to…
1. Describe themselves using Traits (e.g., popular, nice, helpful,
smart, dumb)
2. Use Social Descriptions – references to social groups (e.g.,
Catholic, Girl Scout)
3. Engage in Social Comparison – thinking what they can do in
comparison with others
Critical Thinking Question: In what way social comparison help in the
development of children?
4. Distinguish between Real & Ideal Selves – differentiating their actual
competencies from those they aspire to have
5. More Realistic because of increased social comparison and
perspective-taking
Adolescence
Adolescent Self-understanding is characterized by:
1. Abstract and Idealistic Thinking (e.g., I’m sensitive, I am indecisive)
2. Self-consciousness
3. Contradictions within the Self – differentiating their concept of the
self into multiple roles in different relationship contexts
4. The fluctuating Self – the adolescent self continues to be
characterized by instability until the adolescent constructs a more
unified theory of self
5. Real and Ideal Selves: Possible self – includes what they might
become, what they are afraid of becoming (e.g., Mooney Problem
Checklist results)
6. Self-integration – achieved in late adolescence or emerging
adulthood, which results to an integrated sense of identity
1. Importance of Self-awareness becomes an important
developmental task in adulthood (e.g., awareness of
strengths and weaknesses)
2. Possible selves:
Young Adults: What they would like to become; oftentimes
unrealistic at first
Middle-aged: Possible selves in terms of areas in which they
already have performed (e.g., Being good at my work, Having a
good marriage); trying to attain hoped-for selves
Older Adults: Concerned with maintaining what they have and
preventing/avoiding health problems and dependency (Smith,
2009); Life Review (Thinking About the Past? Regrets?
James Marcia's Theory on IDENTITY STATUS
- describes a person's position in the development of an
identity.
2 Dimensions of Identity Status: EXPLORATION and
COMMITMENT
Exploration
- refers to a person investigating various options for career and
personal values
Commitment
- involves making a decision regarding which identity path to
follow, and making a personal investment in attaining that
identity
● Has the Person Explored Meaningful Alternatives
Regarding Some Identity Options (e.g., Career, Values,
Sexuality, etc)
● Has the Person Made a Commitment?
IDENTITY DIFFUSION - not explored, not made a commitment
IDENTITY FORECLOSURE - not explored, made a commitment
IDENTITY MORATORIUM - still exploring, not yet made a commitment
IDENTITY ACHIEVEMENT - explored and made a commitment
Psychological Theory
The Real Self & Ideal Self
Self-Concept
- The way you think about yourself and your abilities or
appearance
- Done's conception of oneself or of one's role
Ideal Self
- This is the kind of person whom we would like to be
- It is dynamic and forever changing
- It is an idealized version of yourself created out of what
you have learned from your life experiences, the
demands of society, and what you admire in your role
models.
Real Self
- It is the self that feels most true to what and who we
really are
- It refers to how we think, feel, and look
- The underlying organismic self: What a person is
capable of becoming if they lived in an ideal world. An
individual would have lived in an environment of
unconditional positive regard.
Congruence
- Ideal Self is Closer to Real Self

Incongruence
- Feelings not aligned with our
actions
William James Theory of the Self In this lesson, we will also discuss the different factors why some
Late 19th century… people tend to have issues with body / self image, as well as
● Pieced together a theory of self that is remarkably modern. various tips on how to develop self love and body acceptance.
● In his book The Principles of Psychology (1890), he discusses the
manifold nature of the self. Overcoming struggles with self image and body image
William James' Theory of Self is divided into two main categories: lesson 2: unpacking the self: - the physical self\
- "ME" Self refers to the aspects of someone that come from that
person's experiences. what is self image
- “I” Self is the thinking self ● SELF IMAGE refers to how you see yourself
James subdivide the "ME" Self into three sections: ● This may be how you see yourself physically or your opinion of
• The Material Self who and what you are
• The Social Self ● Having a positive SELF IMAGE is important because it affects your
• The Spiritual Self. self esteem and confidence

Radical note: SELF IMAGE includes:

“In its widest possible sense, however, a man's self is the sum total of all that ● what you think you look like
he can call his, not only his body and his psychic powers, but his clothes and ● what kind of person you think you are
his house, his wife and children, his ancestors and friends, his reputation and ● what you believe others think of you
works, his lands and horses, and yacht and bank account. All these things ● how you see yourself and how you believe others see you
give him the same emotions.”
Self ESTEEM
Four Components of the Self ● is how you feel about yourself and is closely connected with how
The Material Self you view yourself
- consists of things that belong to us or that we belong to. Things like
family, clothes, our body, and money are some of what makes up Body Image
our material selves. ● BODY IMAGE refers to the mental picture you have of your body
The Spiritual Self (feelings, thoughts & judgment about your body)
- for James, the spiritual self is who we are at our core. The spiritual ● It pertains to a person's PERCEPTION instead of the actual body
self is more concrete or permanent than the other two selves. The composition
spiritual self is our subjective and most intimate self. Aspects of an ● A NEGATIVE (DISTORTED) body image refers to an unrealistic
individual's spiritual self include things like their personality, core view of how someone sees their body
values, and conscience that do not typically change throughout ● It is often associated or can lead to eating
their lifetime.
The Social Self Why do we have issues with body image
- our social selves are who we are in a given social situation. For ● EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE and ATTRACTIVENESS
James, people change how they act depending on the social ● SOCIETAL PRESSURES (whether from our families, friends,
situation that they are in. James believed that people had as many industry we are in)
social selves as they did social situations they participated in. ● UNREALISTIC STANDARDS we see in MAINSTREAM MEDIA
The Pure Ego ● PERSONALITY TRAITS: the pressure to be “PERFECT”
● DEVELOPMENTAL Stage: Puberty / Pregnancy / Aging
What is a TRUE SELF? Who is our true self?
Carl Rogers proposed that to be a fully functioning person, one must Q: How to deal with our body image issues?
experience genuineness (authenticity), empathy, and unconditional A: SELF LOVE and BODY ACCEPTANCE
positive regard.
Steps to self love & BODY acceptance
In his Person-Centered Theory of Personality (derived from a Client- ● STOP comparing ourselves to others
Centered approach to counseling), he defined concepts such as ● Know the TRUTH: it's a LIE! Images in media we compare
congruence (versus incongruence) which is dependent upon the ourselves to are enhanced & retouched (aka Photoshopped)
person's experience of his / her real self and ideal self. ● Ignore the CRITICS: People who mean us well will not make us
feel bad about our bodies / appearance
● Quit negative self talk and focus on what is positive about you
● focus on health rather than appearance
● Celebrate what OUR BODIES CAN DO, instead of HOW IT LOOKS
LIKE
● KNOW that BEAUTY comes in EVERY COLOR, SHAPE and SIZE
● Your WORTH should not be MEASURED by inches lost, dress size
Process Questions for SMALL GROUP Discussion: or a number on a scale
1.Do you agree that physical appearance play an important role in ● Practice GRATITUDE
determining a person’s success in life? Explain why you agree or disagree. ● And don’t forget to BE KIND
2.What are your favorite physical features? What about your least favorite ● LOVE your BODY (it’s the only one you’ll ever have!)
features?
3.What are you grateful for about your bodies?
4.Do you think that you have a positive self-image / body image or a negative
one?
5. What factors contributed to how you see yourself physically?