The Self

The Self

1. Key Concepts

   • Every person is unique through our exercise of free will (the ability to make our own decisions)

2. Core Theory: Humanistic Theory of Self

   • Developed by Maslow and Rogers: each of us has free will, we should focus on present not past, everyone is motivated to become the best that we can
   • Self concept (A person's view on themselves) is said to develop around 1-2 from the influence of carers.
     • Ideal self: the person that everyone strives to be, when this is far away from a persons 'self-concept' it leads to self-esteem issues. Self-esteem: A measure of how much we value ourselves.
       • Low self-esteem can be treated with 'Unconditional positive regard', where love is shown without the expectation of anything back
         • Self-actualisation: Achieving your ideal self mainly through the help of others and our own drive
   • Criticisms
     • Very vague ideas that are not easy to measure
     • Not very scientific as when involving the self it is hard to measure/observe
     • Humanists focus on the individual too much, that everybody has free will. This means people are unpredictable and whats the point of any science if you can't predict things
     • Ignores genetic evidence influencing the self/mind

3. Alternative Theory: Eysenck's Trait Theory

   • More scientific, makes generalisations on the similar traits, believe that personality is influenced by genes
   • Personality: Has a genetic basis and a biological explanation: it is shaped by t part of the mid-brain called the reticular activating system.
   • Extraversion: The degree to which someone is outgoing and sociable.
   • Introversion: Someone typically quiet/reserved
   • Neuroticism: Being anxious/moody
   • Stability: Someone being emotionally stable
   • Eysenck's test of personality combined with descriptive words aim to paint a picture of a consistent/predictable person

4. Core Study: Van Houtte and Jarvis (1995)

   • Aim: To see if pets played a part in the psychological development of pre-adolecents
   • Procedure: Sample of [mainly white American] 130 8-13 yos (71 boys 59 girls) from Illinois, divided into 2 groups pet owners and non-owners. Matched on 3 aspects: relationship status of parents, socio-economic status, number of siblings they had.
     • Procedure Cont: Questions about pet asked such as kind of pet, length of ownership etc. Data was gathered using questionnaires based on self-concept/esteem etc and attachment to the animals.
       • Autonomy measured on a 4-point scale to sentences like 'My parents and I agree on everything'
       • Self-concept measured on a 5 point scale to adjectives such as 'I'm happy'
       • Self-esteem was measured on a 4 point scale with things like 'On a whole I am satisfied with myself'
       • Attachment to pets was measured through a 7-point scale with things like 'I consider my pet as a friend'
     • Findings: Higher self-esteem in pet owners. For 11 year olds pets found to be positive for self concept. Higher autonomy for pet owners. Pets are good for growth.
   • Limitations
     • Always a potential problem with self report questionnaires as participants can lie
     • A lot of quantitative data which might not have been able to correctly portray complex emotions
     • Sample unrepresentative: Only teens (age), culture etc

5. Application of Research: Counselling

   • Rogers revolutionised counselling in that the counselor was no longer the all knowing expert, but would now guide the patient to come to the answer themselves.
   • The Rogerian way: [1] Counselor avoids giving instructions, just shows understanding. [2] Counselor believes the patient will recover. [3]Shows empathy. [4]Is genuine and always shows unconditional positive regard
   • Relationships: 'Relate' and other alike businesses are trained in the Rogerian method to allow couples at the edge to talk things out in a free, comfortable environment.
   • Career guidance: Also follows the method as to let the student come to their own decision on what career to pick