PSYCHOLOGICAL

PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF

 • Examine the self as a construct from a
LEARNING psychological stance;
OBJECTIVE • Compare and contrast the various psychological
theories in terms of how they construed the
S: self; 
• Gain understanding of the different facets of the
self as expounded by psychological
perspectives; 
• Create a personal conceptualization about what
the self is, using the propositions of
psychology. 
 The ontology of the self has been one of the
most immensely researched foci of
As a science, psychology is particularly
psychology. Established as a scientific
concerned with how the self evolves as it
discipline in 1879, psychology in its attempt
interacts with various forces. It acknowledges
to broaden theoretical explanations on the self
the self being stable and enduring through
has been so fascinated in looking unto
time but is also susceptible to change
indispensable phenomena like social
depending on our encounters. It offered ways
interactions and individual difference
of thinking about and viewing the self 
variables which include personality, behavior
and mental processes. 

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 1. WILLIAM JAMES
(ME-SELF AND I-SELF)
James proposed that the self has two facets: the I-Self and
the Me-Self. The I-Self is said to be the self in action or as
subject; it is that aspect of the self that does the acting,
thinking, and feeling. It is also known as the self as the
knower or perceiver. The Me-Self on the other hand refers
to the self as an object; it is that facet of the self which is
the known or the perceived. 
Also termed by James as the Empirical Self, the me is one’s
accumulated understanding of one’s self. Further, James
suggests that the Me-Self or the Empirical Self has three
components: the Material Self which encompasses all of
our important possessions as well as the people we
treasure; the. Social Self involves how we think we are
viewed and regarded by others and also our instinctive
desire to be recognized; and the Spiritual Self contains our
subjective dispositions like our self-appraised abilities,
beliefs, attitudes, emotions, etc.
2. CARL ROGERS (REAL
SELF AND IDEAL SELF
Rogers posited two essential components of the
self: the real self and the ideal self. According to
him, the real self speaks of how we genuinely
appraise ourselves. It is the self that feels most true
to what and who we really are. It may not be
perfect but it is the part of us that feel most real.
The ideal self on the other hand, denotes one’s view
of self as one wishes to be. It contains attributes,
usually positive, that people aspire to possess.
Further, Rogers suggests that a discrepancy
between our ideal and real selves redounds to non-
equilibrium, indicating an unhealthy personality. 

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3. ALBERT BANDURA
(PROACTIVE AND AGENTIC SELF)
Bandura viewed people as agents or originators of experience. We
don’t just merely observe and imitate behavior; we have cognitive
faculties that enable us to discern unto whether or not such behavior
is worth emulating or if such can help us become better individuals.

The self as proactive is constructive; it is optimistic that it can get

through whatever adversities it may encounter. Being proactive means
having the capacity to recognize and take advantage of opportunities
that may be beneficial to our selves and to better our lives in general.
An agentic self is one who takes charge of his choices and actions; it
is self-reflective and self-regulating.
 4. MURRAY BOWEN
(DIFFERENTIATED SELF)
Differentiation of selves refers to the degree to which one is able
to balance: (a) emotional and intellectual functioning, and (b)
intimacy and autonomy in relationship (Skowron & Friedlander,
1998)
On a more personal level, differentiation involves the ability to
make clear boundaries between our thoughts and feelings, and
to choose which of the two will guide our behavior.
Highly differentiated individuals are able to balance autonomy
and intimacy in their relationship. This means that one is able to
establish connection with others without losing one’s self in the
process.
Poorly differentiated individuals, on the other hand, may engage
in fusion in their relationships. This means that they become
much attached to the roles they play in a relationship, they have
few firmly held beliefs, they are more likely to be compliant,
and seek approval from others before making major decision.
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5. DONALD WOODS
WINNICOTT (TRUE
AND FALSE SELVES)  
According to him the true self is based on our authentic
experiences as a person. This is somehow similar to
Roger’s concept of the real self. The feeling of being
alive, doing the things you want to do, and just being
yourself comprise the true self. On the other hand, the
false self, which may also referred to as a fake self or
superficial self, is our defense against the vulnerabilities
or imperfections of our real self. Our true self may have
its own share of blemishes and weakness that sometimes
lowers our self-esteem. As a result, we try to cover up
these flaws and act “as if” we do not have them.
THANK
YOU!