UNDERSTANDING THE SELF ANTHROPOLOGICAL

PERSPECTIVE OF SELF WHAT IS THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF SELF

•The anthropological perspective of self explores how individuals perceive themselves within cultural and
social contexts, understanding that identity is shaped by cultural norms, values, and practices, and varies
across cultures.
WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY?
•Anthropology is the study of human societies, cultures, and their development across time and space
TYPE OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF SELF
•Egocentric ~Focused on oneself; seeing the world primarily from one's perspective or point of view.
•Sociocentric ~Focused on society or the collective; considering the needs, values, and perspectives of the
group or community rather than just the individual.
CULTURAL RELATIVISM
•Anthropology encourages cultural relativism, the understanding that different cultures have unique beliefs
and values.
SOCIAL INFLUENCES
•Anthropology explores social norms, roles, and structures. By understanding how societies shape behavior
and expectations, individuals can critically analyze their roles within their communities, leading to a better
understanding of their identities.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
•Anthropology examines the historical context of human societies. Understanding historical influences
provides insights into the roots of traditions, values, and customs, helping individuals comprehend the origins
of their beliefs and behaviors.
IDENTITY AND BELONGING
•Anthropology explores concepts of identity, ethnicity, and belonging. By examining how different societies
define identity, individuals can reflect on their own identities, fostering a sense of self-discovery and
acceptance. You sent
HYBRID IDENTITY
•Refers to the blending or mixing of cultural elements from different societies or groups.
CROSS CULTURAL INSIGHT
•Comparative studies across cultures allow individuals to see the diversity of human experiences. SELF
REFLEXIBITY •Refers to the practice of critically examining one's positionality, biases, and assumptions in the
process of conducting research or interpreting cultural phenomena.
SELF REFLEXIVITY

•Refers to the practice of critically examining one's positionality, biases, and assumptions in
the process of conducting research or interpreting cultural phenomena.
 PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?

-Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. Psychologists actively
study and understand mental processes, brain functions, and behavior.

William James
Father of American psychology 1990 distinguished two understandings of the self, the self as
“Me” and the self as “I” and this he called the Concept of Self.

Self as having two(2) aspects

“I-Self”
 refers to the self that knows who he/she is.
 thinking, acting, and feeling self
 reflects the soul of a person or what is now thought of as the mind and is called
the pure ego4

“Me-Self”
The "Me-Self" is the empirical self. It refers to describing the person's personal
experiences and is further divided into sub-categories: material self, social self, and
spiritual self. • The material self consists of things that belong to a person such as the
body, clothes, house, etc.

David Lester
-British American Psychologist, suicidologist, and Professor Emeritus of Psychology at
Stockton University
-Multiple Versus Unified Self

Multiple Versus Unified Self

-The construction of multiple selves varies across different- roles and relationships
-Coping with different selves constitutes Lacks among adolescents
-These challenges contribute heavily to the young person's struggle for a unified self

Donald Winnicott
-English Pediatrician and Psychoanalyst.
-True and False Self.
-The Function of the false self is to hide and protect the self.
-People tend to display a false self to impress others.

Carl Rogers
-American psychologist and considered to be one of the founding fathers of
psychotherapy research.

Self Theory
-believed in the inherent goodness of people and emphasized the importance of free
will and psychological growth
-suggested that actualizing tendency is the driving Force behind human behavior
-human beings are always striving for self-fulfillment or self-actualization
-When the needs of the self are dented, severe anxiety may result
Self Concept
-refers to the image of one self
-defined the self as a flexible and changing perception of personal identity
-self develops from interactions with significant people and self-awareness
The Three Components of Self-Concept
Self-image -how you see yourself / how do you see yourself
Self-esteem -how much you value yourself
Ideal self -how you wish you could be
Sigmund Frued
-One of the most popular psychologists
-The Importance of the Unconscious Ego Sigmund Freud's construction of Self and
Personality.
Three() structures of personality
1. Id -pleasure-seeking, immature, impulsive, childlike, and cannot delay gratification
2. Ego -Works on the reality principle, controls the id, and can delay pleasure
3. Superego -the conscience and moral judge of conduct.
Freud's Psychosexual Stages
Oral Stage: Birth to 1-year Erogenous Zone: Mouth
Anal Stage: 1 to 3-year Erogenous Zone Bowel and Bladder Control
Phallic Stage: 3 to 6-year Erogenous Zone: Genitals
Latent Slage: 6 to Puberty Libido Inactive
Genital Stage: Puberty to Death Maturing Sexual
Psychological Defense Mechanism
1. Denial -refusal to recognize a threatening situation.
2. Repression -pushing threatening situations out of conscious memory.
3. Rationalization -making up acceptable excuses for unacceptable behavior.
4. Projection -placing one's own unacceptable thoughts onto Others.
5. Reaction formation- condemns something that has an unconscious appeal.
6. Displacement-transfer of emotions/behaviors to another less threatening.
7. Regression - Falling back on childlike patterns as a way of coping with stressful
situations.
8. Identification -Trying to become like someone else to deal with one's anxiety.
9. Compensation (Substitution) - trying to make up for areas in which a lack is
perceived by becoming superior in some area.
10. Sublimation -turning socially unacceptable urges into socially acceptable behavior.

Albert Bandura
-Canadian-American psychologist
-Self as Proactive and Agentic
-believed that behavioral modification is possible
-Stanford University Psychologist
-Views people as agents (originators) of experience not just reactive
-suggesting that humans can act and make things happen.
Four (4) Agentic Perspective
1. Intentionally- Enables us to behave with purpose
2. Forethought - Allows us to anticipate outcomes
3. Self-reactiveness-We can be motivated to regulate our actions
4. Self-reflectiveness-We can reflect our thoughts and behaviors and make
needed modifications.
Seven more personality archetypes
1. The Father -Authority figure, stern; power ful
2. The Mother -Nurturing, comforting
3. The child -Longing for innocence. rebirth, salvation
4. The wise old man -Cruidance, knowledge, wisdom
5. The hero -Champion, depender; rescuer
6. The maiden -Innocence, desire. purity
7- The trickster -Deceiver, liar: troublemaker