Psychological

Perspective
The Psychological Self:
My Favorite Mystery
By : Geraldine B. Vicente, RPm
Learning Objectives
discuss the different psychological theories about
the self.
identify and evaluate the real self and ideal self;
and
assess the self based on the true and false self
theory
 Psychological Perspective
In the context of psychology, the self can be defined
as a reflexive psychological process that starts when
one identifies themselves as an object, followed by
describing oneself as a self-concept or self-feeling,
and ends with saying that the self is manifested in
how one acts and presents themselves to others. In
this process, the self is perceived through how one
sees and understands themselves.
 WHO ARE
YOU?

Questioning who we are or engaging in self-

reflection to understand ourselves is actually
beneficial in increasing self-awareness.
 Most of the time, we are too hard on
ourselves because of too many
expectations we have.

STABILITY POPULARITY

ACADEMIC
ACHIEVEMENTS

CAREER STANDARDS
"You are powerful, provided you
know how powerful you are."
- Yogi Bhajan

Possible selves are developed

from past experiences, current
behavior, and future
expectations.
 Topics

Self-Concept Real and Ideal Self-Esteem and Archetypes

Selves Self-Efficacy
HUMANISTIC THEORY
CARL ROGERS

Carl Rogers believes that the self does

not exist at birth; it is developed
gradually during childhood, wherein
one differentiates the self from the
non-self. He proposed that by utilizing
free choice and action, one can shape
themselves based on what they want
to be.
 Self/Self-Concept
According to Carl Rogers, the self or our self-
concept is an organized, consistent set of
perceptions and beliefs about oneself.

These perceptions and beliefs that comprise

our self-concept are called self-schemas.
Self-schemas are formed by numerous
factors that we may be aware or unaware of.
 Self-Schemas

personality physical
First traits Third features Fifth

past abilities values

Second Fourth
experiences
 Self-Schemas

feedback from
Sixth social roles Eighth others

goals own
Seventh Nineth
observations

Our self schemas influence not only current

behavior but also future behaviors.
Rogers believed that the self is composed of
concepts unique to every individual. Self-concept
includes three components:
1 Self-worth or self esteem
is what one thinks about oneself, which develops in
the early childhood stage resulting from the child’s
interaction with the parents.
2 Self-image
is how one sees the self, including body image’s
influence on inner personality.
3 Ideal self
is the person that one wants to be.
 Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy
Self-esteem
refers to one's overall assessment of one's worth as a person, one's
self-worth. People with high self esteem succeed more, have better
relationships, and are happier compared to those with low self-
worth.
Specific elements of the self-concept may contribute to self-esteem.
This presents evidences that who we are is never defined by one
success or one failure.

Self-efficacy
is how one performs. Self-efficacy is directly correlates with self-
esteem. When our self-efficacy or our performance improves, our
self-esteem improves which will lead to congruence.
Real Self
and
Ideal Self
 person we want to be

Ideal idealized version of

Self ourself

how I should be

who we actually are

Real
how I see me
Self

also called "actual self"

 Our ideal self is essential
in guiding and motivating
us to behave in a way
that would lead us to be
the best version of who
we want to be.
Congruence and Incongruence

This gives us confidence, satisfaction,

and a sense of self-actualization or
fulfillment leading to a high self-
esteem.

This results to being distressed,

anxious, leading to a low self-esteem
or self-worth and be defensive in our
actions.
 TRUE SELF & FALSE SELF
DONALD WOODS WINNICOTT

Winnicott proposed that the healthy core of a healthy person’s true

self is hidden from the outside world, uninfluenced by external (harsh)
realities. The false self is put up to defend the core from these realities
and prevent it from any changes.

False Self
The false self is the product of early experience. It is
a defensive organization formed by the infant
because of inadequate mothering or failures in
empathy. The false self is a mask or a persona, a
form of defense that continually seeks to anticipate
others’ demands and comply with them to protect
the true self from a world that is felt unsafe.
 TWO TYPES
OF FALSE
SELF
Healthy False Self
The healthy false self feels
that it is still connected with
the true self. Thus, it can be
compliant without feeling
guilty that it abandoned its
true self.
Unhealthy False Self
This individual may seem
happy and comfortable in
their environment but feels
forced to fit in and constantly
needs to adjust their behavior
to adapt to the social
situation.
TRUE SELF & FALSE SELF
DONALD WOODS WINNICOTT

True Self
The true self is a sense of being alive and real in
one’s mind and body, having spontaneous and
unforced feelings. A child whose mother is
positively responsive and supports the child’s
natural individuation process will grow up as an
adult with a stable self-image views other people
realistically, and accepts both the positive and
negative side of every person, including
themselves.
AGENTIC THEORY OF THE SELF
ALBERT BANDURA

Albert Bandura, who advanced the agentic theory of the

self, asserted that people are not merely passive
entities molded by environmental forces or driven by
inner influences. The agentic theory of the self rejects
the notion that selfhood is culturally influenced or
controlled by urges; rather, it looks upon every human
being as capable of thinking, deciding, foreseeing, and
managing their actions, free to decide for themselves.

Bandura terms this capability as human agency.

 4 CORE PROPERTIES OF HUMAN AGENCY

1 Intentionality
is manifested in how an individual forms intentions with action plans and
strategies to realize them.

2 Forethought
refers to how individuals position their goals in the future and visualize
themselves in a future state of existence, ensuring that plans can anticipate
possible opportunities or roadblocks.

3 Self-reactiveness
shows that agents are planners, forethinkers, and self-regulators. This includes
adopting personal standards, constructing appropriate courses of action,
monitoring activities, and regulating them using self-reactions.

4 Self-reflection
signifies that people can self-examine their functioning. They reflect on their life
pursuits, the meaning of the actions they take to accomplish these pursuits,
their thoughts, and personal efficacy
AGENTIC THEORY OF THE SELF
ALBERT BANDURA

As agents, individuals exercise control over

their functioning. Since the self is situated in
an environment where the interplay of
interpersonal and intrapersonal activities
occur, the self functions as a product of
these influences making the individual
responsible for how they let these various
influences affect how they function.
ANALYTICAL PSYCHOLOGY
CARL JUNG
Carl Jung's personality theory focuses on the
interplay between the conscious and
unconscious mind, universal archetypes, the
process of individuation, and psychological
types. He founded analytical psychology.

Collective Unconscious
shared memories and experiences that have
been passed down through generations It's
a reservoir of archetypes that influence
human thoughts, emotions, and behaviors
 THE BIG-FIVE PERSONALITY TRAITS

C Industrious,
Curious, original, O
dependable, rule
perceptive. N
O bound Stressed by
Stressed S
P unclear expectation
by dullness C
I
E
E
N N
T
N
I
Conservative,
E O
Careless,
U
cautious, S irreverent,
S
safety oriented S N
changeable.
Stressed by the E Stressed by rigid
unfamiliar S expectation
S
 THE BIG-FIVE PERSONALITY TRAITS

Warm, generous,
Outgoing, drawing
E A compliant.
energy from contact
X G Stressed by
with others.
T R disapproval and
Stressed by
R E antagonism
isolation
O E
V A
B
E
L
R
Private, drawing E Mistrustful,
S
energy from time N antagonistic,
alone. I competitive.
E
Stressed by O S Stressed by frustration
overstimulation N S and losing.
THE BIG-FIVE PERSONALITY TRAITS

Sensitive, reactive,
vulnerable. Easily N
stressed E
U
R
O
T
I
Stable, confident, C
frank. Slow to
I
become stressed ..
S
(but still capable of
it) M
 THE ARCHETYPES

1 The Persona
The social mask or facade that a person presents to the world, often conforming
to societal norms and expectations.

2 The Shadow
The unconscious and often hidden aspects of oneself, including desires, fears,
and instincts that are typically repressed.

3 The Anima and Animus

Represent the inner, opposite gender aspects of an individual. They can
influence how a person relates to their own gender and the opposite gender .
(Anima men, animus women)

4 The Self
Represents the unified and whole aspect of the personality, striving for balance
and integration.
 THE ARCHETYPES

5 The Mother
Symbolizes nurturing, protection, and fertility.

6 The Trickster
Symbolizes chaos, unpredictability, and challenging societal norms.