The Self

The Self

1. Core Study

   • Aim: to examine the role of pets in pre-adolescent psychosocial development
   • Sample: 130 pre-adolescents aged 8-12 years, 26 3rd graders, 36 4th graders, 34 5th graders and 34 6th graders
   • Procedure: The participants completed a questionnaire which included measures of autonomy, self-concept and self-esteem. All participants complete a measure on their attachment to animals , there was two groups: pet owning and non pet owning group. For each pet owning participant, a non-pet owning participant was matched for parental marital status, socioeconomic status and number of sibling.
   • Results: Autonomy: Higher levels of autonomy were reported in pet-owners across all participants irrespective age. Self concept: The only time pet-owners and non-pet owners differed was in the 6th grade. Self-esteem: Significant difference between the two groups in 5th graders and sixth graders. Attachment to animals: no difference
   • Conclusion: Pets have a greater effect on children's lives as they enter into adolescence. Also, pets could be used to enhance self-concept and increase self-esteem for pre-adolescents with low levels of both
   • Limitations: 1.There was small sample sizes in each of the age groups, making it difficult to generalise to that age group on a wider scale, as the group may not have been representative of the target population. 2.Because participants completed questionnaires it could have caused demand characteristics with participants guessing the aim and giving socially desirable answers.

2. Core Theory

   • Main ideas- we should focus on the present, not the past, we are all motivated to best the best that we can be, we have the power to make our own decisions. It says an individual is motivated by a hierarchy of needs, basic needs must be met before higher ones can be satisfied; once all the needs are satisfied a person reached self-actualisation- the reaching & fulfilling our own potential. It uses the idea of self-concept-the mental image we have of ourselves, and ideal-self- our mental representation of who we would ideally like to be, and the bigger the difference between these two, to worse our self-esteem is- how we feel about our current self. It also believes in unconditional positive regard- when a person is completely accepting of another no matter what. (& expect nothing in return)
     • Limitations: 1.The ideas of self-actualisation, unconditional positive regard and free will are subjective and based on opinions, making it difficult to test them scientifically. 2.It ignores the role of nature on personality, the trait theory explores the role of genetics on personality, so because the humanistic theory ignores this it cannot completely understand personality as one theory alone

3. Alternative Theory

   • Trait Theory- Supports nature, Personality has a genetic basis, and believes our personality can be assed by 2 main traits: The extraversion scale measures how outgoing someone is (one end extraversion, other is introversion), The neuroticism scale measures how emotionally stable we are (one end is neurotic, other is stable)

4. Applications

   • Counselling- it emphasis on 3 main points: 1.Empathy: the therapist's ability to understand how the clients feeling about life experiences. 2.Congruence: refers to the therapist allowing the client to experience them for who they are (reveal sometime about themselves) 3.Unconditional positive regard: refers to maintaining a positive attitude towards the client (even when they don't agree with the client)

5. Key Terms

   • Key terms: Free will- the conscious choices we make about the way we live and the pathways we choice. Unique-a one off which cannot be repeated;individuals