Self and Identity

Self and Identity

1. Is there a core self over and above conscious experiences?

2. Core self? I and Me

   • James (1907) p.195
     • I and me = 2 aspects of the self (conscious experience) me= things that is known (object of perception) I= thing that does the knowing (perceiver/subject)
   • Ego vs Bundle theory
     • Ego theory = there is an 'I' - some essence beyond consciousness, essence =self - 'true self'
     • Bundle theory= we are totality of conscious experiences. Our memories, thoughts, emotions... make up the self
     • Dennett
       • We are a bundle of conscious experiences - but we create narratives to explain this to ourselves

3. No one definition

   • Self - referring to any aspects of who or what indiv considered to be ('who we are')
   • Identity - anything that can be considered a 'representation' of self. Talk or thought about who one is. ('Representation of someone by self or others')

4. Schema theory

   • Cognitive model of understanding the self - information processing, how we interpret incoming info and own feelings/emotion in a way that creates the self and are consistent with the way we see ourselves
   • Self-concept/self schema - our understandings of ourselves - collection of ideas one holds about himself - framework
     • Things that are consistent with our self concept more likely to be remembered and processed more quickly
     • Working self concept: currently active self concepts - multiple self-representations
     • Dynamic self-concept: different part of self are going to be important at different times
   • Schematic / Aschematic
     • Schematic: attributes that you see as part of yourself - information you think is relevant to you
     • Aschematic: info not relevant to you
   • Markus & Nurius (1986) / Markus & Wurf (1987)
     • Possible selves: schematas of possible selves in future - might, hope of fear to become - inspirations for behaviour
       • Markus & ... cross culturally - things that can make up our working self-concepts=culturally based
   • focuses on information processing doesn't explain what it means beyond + doesn't focus on emotional side of ourselves
   • Higgins (1987)
     • Actual self: attributes that indiv really possess
       • Self-Discrepancy
         • If actual self don't match ideal or ought - might feel sad, disappointed, guilt, stress....
     • Ideal self: attributes indiv would ideally like to possess
     • Ought self: based of what others want you to be; what you believe you should be

5. Authenticity & well being on social networks

   • Reinecke & Trepte (2014)
     • Positivity Bias in social network sites - authentic representation that are positive easier to put on fb - tend to get more responses, likes, engage more with you
     • Measures of well being (+ affects, absence of - affects, satisfaction w/ life - Measure of authenticity (integrated self discrepancy index)
       • Authenticity linked to psychological health/well-being in offline settings
       • Findings: Authenticity significantly contributed to subjective well being - Positivity bias: those with low levels of well being less likely to feel authentic on FB

6. Social Identity Theory (Cognitive approach)

   • Tajfel (1969)
     • Come to develop our sense of ourselves as part of a group = our social identity - group membership shape thought - Gain sense of identity through groups - Rather than looking at indiv attributes, looking at the attributes of group - individual processes transformed in groups settings

7. Social constructionism / critical psychology

   • Self not subjective/ personal but intersubjective, reflexive process constructed through social interactions - focus on shared meanings and understandings
   • Adams, Rodham, Gavin (2005)
     • Self deliberate self harm
       • sought validation - intrinsic/extrinsic self - normal/abnormal self