PSY415Psychology of the SelfPSY415Psychology of the Self

Week 2Nature of the Self

Week 2Nature of the Self

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 2

What is the Self?What is the Self?

“In its widest possible sense, ..., a man’s self is the sum total of all that he CAN call his, not only his body and psychic powers, but his clothes and his house, his wife and children, his ancestors and friends, his reputation and works, his lands and horses, and yacht and bank account.” (James, 1890, p. 291)

“In its widest possible sense, ..., a man’s self is the sum total of all that he CAN call his, not only his body and psychic powers, but his clothes and his house, his wife and children, his ancestors and friends, his reputation and works, his lands and horses, and yacht and bank account.” (James, 1890, p. 291)

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 3

The Constituents of the Self

The Constituents of the Self

SpiritualSpiritualSelfSelf

SocialSocialSelfSelf

MaterialMaterialSelfSelf

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 4

The Material SelfThe Material Self

Two categoriesThe bodily self

The parts of our bodyIs there a difference b/w sayin my or

mine ?Extracorporeal self

Any material possession which extends our body

It is our psychological ownership of these materials which constitute the material self

Two categoriesThe bodily self

The parts of our bodyIs there a difference b/w sayin my or

mine ?Extracorporeal self

Any material possession which extends our body

It is our psychological ownership of these materials which constitute the material self

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 5

The Material SelfThe Material Self

What makes something a part of the extended self?

Do we respond in an emotional way?

Do we invest effort in enhancing or maintaining this posession?

What makes something a part of the extended self?

Do we respond in an emotional way?

Do we invest effort in enhancing or maintaining this posession?

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 6

The Material SelfThe Material Self

The extended self has a positive valence not by virtue of possessing material per se; these possessions become a part of us

They serve symbolic functionsExpress who we are and how we

want to be regardedExtend ourselves in time -

immortality

The extended self has a positive valence not by virtue of possessing material per se; these possessions become a part of us

They serve symbolic functionsExpress who we are and how we

want to be regardedExtend ourselves in time -

immortality

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 7

The Material SelfThe Material Self

Mere Ownership Effect (Beggan, 1992)Having the opportunity to own an object

induces positive valence to this objectFollowing failure, people evaluate these

objects more favorablyName Letter Effect (Nuttin, 1985)

Individuals have a tendency that they like the letters which constitute their names more than the rest of the letters in the alphabet

Mere Ownership Effect (Beggan, 1992)Having the opportunity to own an object

induces positive valence to this objectFollowing failure, people evaluate these

objects more favorablyName Letter Effect (Nuttin, 1985)

Individuals have a tendency that they like the letters which constitute their names more than the rest of the letters in the alphabet

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 8

The Social SelfThe Social Self

How we are regarded and recognized by others (social identities)

“... a man has as many social selves as there are individuals who recognize him and and carry an image of him in their mind.” (James, 1890, p. 294)

How we are regarded and recognized by others (social identities)

“... a man has as many social selves as there are individuals who recognize him and and carry an image of him in their mind.” (James, 1890, p. 294)

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 9

The Social SelfThe Social Self

The Five Types of Social IdentitiesPersonal Relationships (e.g.; son,

daughter)Ethnic/Religious (e.g.; Turkish, Muslim)Political Affiliation (e.g.; nationalist,

social democrat)Stigmatized Groups (e.g.; criminal,

addict)Vocation/Avocation (e.g.; psychologist,

anchorperson)Ascribed vs. Attained Identities

The Five Types of Social IdentitiesPersonal Relationships (e.g.; son,

daughter)Ethnic/Religious (e.g.; Turkish, Muslim)Political Affiliation (e.g.; nationalist,

social democrat)Stigmatized Groups (e.g.; criminal,

addict)Vocation/Avocation (e.g.; psychologist,

anchorperson)Ascribed vs. Attained Identities

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 10

The Social SelfThe Social Self

How we think of ourselves depends on our social roles

We have different social selves for different situations

However, there is a stable core sense of self which encompass all social selves

The social self also include the way we think how others evaluate us

How we think of ourselves depends on our social roles

We have different social selves for different situations

However, there is a stable core sense of self which encompass all social selves

The social self also include the way we think how others evaluate us

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 11

The Spiritual SelfThe Spiritual Self

The spiritual self is the inner or psychological self

Our perception of our own psychological qualities (personal identities)

“By the spiritual self ... I mean a man’s inner or subjective being, his psychic faculties or dispositions. ...” (James, 1890, p.296)

The spiritual self is the inner or psychological self

Our perception of our own psychological qualities (personal identities)

“By the spiritual self ... I mean a man’s inner or subjective being, his psychic faculties or dispositions. ...” (James, 1890, p.296)

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 12

The Spiritual SelfThe Spiritual Self

Two ways of thinking about the spiritual selfAbstract Way

Isolate each mental faculty from one another

Concrete WayUnite each mental faculty with one

another

Self is the stream of consciousness

Two ways of thinking about the spiritual selfAbstract Way

Isolate each mental faculty from one another

Concrete WayUnite each mental faculty with one

another

Self is the stream of consciousness

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 13

Collective SelfCollective Self

Refers to an individual’s identification with a group

Can there be cultural differences in terms of relative importance of different identities?Westerners place more emphasis on

personal identities, whereas Easterners place more emphasis on social or collective identities

Refers to an individual’s identification with a group

Can there be cultural differences in terms of relative importance of different identities?Westerners place more emphasis on

personal identities, whereas Easterners place more emphasis on social or collective identities

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 14

Personal NarrativePersonal Narrative

McAdams (1996)

Individuals organize various aspects of the empirical self into a single and coherent personal story

This story includes characters, events, turning-points in life, etc.

McAdams (1996)

Individuals organize various aspects of the empirical self into a single and coherent personal story

This story includes characters, events, turning-points in life, etc.

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 15

What Determines Self-Feelings?

What Determines Self-Feelings?

Self-Esteem = Success / Pretensions Pretensions as Values

Domains of personal importance Pretensions as Aspirations

Goals, wishes, desires, performance level for satisfaction

Medvec et al. (1995)Silver medalists displayed less

happiness than bronze medalists

Self-Esteem = Success / Pretensions Pretensions as Values

Domains of personal importance Pretensions as Aspirations

Goals, wishes, desires, performance level for satisfaction

Medvec et al. (1995)Silver medalists displayed less

happiness than bronze medalists

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 16

Shame vs. GuiltShame vs. Guilt Shame

is a public emotion results from public disapproval or humiliation a generalized feeling that the self is entirely bad leads individuals to hide their deficiencies from

others Guilt

more private emotion evokes as individuals appraise that they could not

have lived up to their values an evaluation of particular behavior leads individuals to correct for the misdeeds

Which particular self-component are feelings of shame and guilt related to?

Shame is a public emotion results from public disapproval or humiliation a generalized feeling that the self is entirely bad leads individuals to hide their deficiencies from

others Guilt

more private emotion evokes as individuals appraise that they could not

have lived up to their values an evaluation of particular behavior leads individuals to correct for the misdeeds

Which particular self-component are feelings of shame and guilt related to?

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 17

Self-Feelings and Self-Views

Self-Feelings and Self-Views

The Attainable Self

A more or less realistic conception of a possible self that one can achieve

James’s Analysis suggests that the more the actual self is closer to the attainable self, the higher the self-esteem

The Attainable Self

A more or less realistic conception of a possible self that one can achieve

James’s Analysis suggests that the more the actual self is closer to the attainable self, the higher the self-esteem

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 18

Self-Feelings and Self-Views

Self-Feelings and Self-Views

The Ideal Self

An idealized self-image that an individual holds

If this idealization is rigid, a must, it may lead to disappointment

Actual self-ideal self discrepancy is related to sadness, unhappiness, depressive feelings, and loss of self-esteem (Higgins, 1987)

The Ideal Self

An idealized self-image that an individual holds

If this idealization is rigid, a must, it may lead to disappointment

Actual self-ideal self discrepancy is related to sadness, unhappiness, depressive feelings, and loss of self-esteem (Higgins, 1987)

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 19

Self-Feelings and Self-Views

Self-Feelings and Self-Views

The Ought Self

The self-image which contains one’s obligations and how one should be

Actual self-ought self discrepancy is related to feelings of anxiety (Higgins, 1987)

The Ought Self

The self-image which contains one’s obligations and how one should be

Actual self-ought self discrepancy is related to feelings of anxiety (Higgins, 1987)

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 20

Self-Feelings and Self-Views

Self-Feelings and Self-Views

The Undesired Self

A type of self-image which contains qualities that the individuals do not wish to possess

Undesired self can motivate individuals to avoid the negative behaviors such as delinquency (Oyserman & Markus, 1990)

The Undesired Self

A type of self-image which contains qualities that the individuals do not wish to possess

Undesired self can motivate individuals to avoid the negative behaviors such as delinquency (Oyserman & Markus, 1990)

Fall 2008 Kürşad Demirutku, Ph.D. 21

The Nature of the IThe Nature of the I

The problem of personal identityIs there a unity in various individual

experiences? Substantialists: Immaterial sould binds

the experiences together Locke: Identity is a result of

remembering Hume: Identity is fictitious; we confuse

temporal contiguity with unity James: Identity is a continuous feeling

The problem of personal identityIs there a unity in various individual

experiences? Substantialists: Immaterial sould binds

the experiences together Locke: Identity is a result of

remembering Hume: Identity is fictitious; we confuse

temporal contiguity with unity James: Identity is a continuous feeling