2.3.1 - Self as Subject and Self as Object
Enroll to start learning
You’ve not yet enrolled in this course. Please enroll for free to listen to audio lessons, classroom podcasts and take practice test.
Interactive Audio Lesson
Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.
Introduction to Self
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Today, we are going to explore the concept of 'self.' Can anyone tell me what they understand by 'self'?
I think it’s about who I am as a person, like my personality and traits.
Good point! The concept of self indeed encapsulates our personal identity. Now, how do you think our self is shaped?
Maybe through our experiences with other people?
Exactly! Our self develops through interactions with significant others — family, friends, and society. This leads to our understanding of 'social identity' as well.
What about self-esteem? How does that fit in?
Self-esteem is how we value ourselves within those identities. A healthy self-esteem affects our behavior positively.
So, it’s really important for confidence?
Absolutely! A strong self-esteem contributes to resilience and adaptability in various situations.
Self as Subject vs. Self as Object
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Now let's discuss the distinction between self as subject and self as object. Who can explain this difference to me?
I think self as subject is when we act and think about ourselves as individuals.
Exactly! Well done. And self as object?
That would be how others view us, right?
Precisely! This duality helps us navigate our identities — we are both the knower and the known. Let’s remember this with the acronym 'S-O' for Subject-Object!
How does this connect to personality?
Great question! Personality is essentially the consistent pattern of our behaviors, reflecting this duality of self across different situations.
So our self influences our personality?
Exactly! Our personal and social identities shape how we develop psychologically and interact with the world.
Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Let’s dive deeper into self-esteem and self-efficacy. Can anyone define self-esteem for us?
Self-esteem is how we judge our own worth.
Exactly! And what about self-efficacy?
I think it’s about believing in our ability to succeed.
Perfect! Thinking about these, both are essential for regulating our behaviors and achieving our goals.
Can you give an example of how this works?
Sure! A person with high self-efficacy will set challenging goals and persist where someone with lower self-efficacy might give up easily.
So building these is crucial for personal growth?
Absolutely! Cultivating a positive self-image and a sustained belief in one’s abilities is vital.
Types of Self
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Let’s categorize the different types of selves we discussed earlier. Who can share them?
There is the personal self, the social self, and the relational self!
Exactly! Now, how do they differ from each other?
The personal self is individual traits, while the social self is about group identity.
Great! And the relational self?
It’s how we connect with others in relationships.
Exactly! Identifying these helps us understand our interactions in various contexts. Remember the acronym 'P-S-R'!
Can these selves conflict sometimes?
Yes, they can! Balancing these identities is essential for a healthy personality.
Introduction & Overview
Read summaries of the section's main ideas at different levels of detail.
Quick Overview
Standard
The section defines 'self' as both the individual’s personal identity and how one is perceived socially. It presents the concept of personality as a reflection of stable behavioral patterns over time and discusses various approaches to studying personality, including the distinction between self as subject (the active knower) and self as object (the observed entity).
Detailed
Self as Subject and Self as Object
This section delves into the nuanced relationship between self and personality, two fundamental concepts in psychology. The notion of self encapsulates both personal identity and social identity, the latter representing one's connection to various societal or cultural groups. The text breaks down self into various types—personal, social, and relational—illustrating how each is affected by individual interactions and contextual experiences.
Furthermore, the self is conceptualized as both a subject and an object. As a subject, individuals engage actively with the world as knowers, while as objects, they are perceived and assessed by others. This duality emphasizes the dynamic nature of self-awareness and expression.
The section also introduces the vital concepts of self-esteem and self-efficacy, which are critical for personal development and recognizing one’s own worth. The relationship of these concepts to behavior regulation is highlighted, as are their implications for developing a healthy personality. The text concludes by framing personality as a stable yet adaptive response style, shaped by both internal traits and external circumstances.
Youtube Videos
Audio Book
Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.
Understanding the Self
Chapter 1 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
Self and personality refer to the characteristic ways in which we define our existence. They also refer to the ways in which our experiences are organised and show up in our behaviour. From common observation we know that different people hold different ideas about themselves. These ideas represent the self of a person. We also know that different people behave in different ways in a given situation, but the behaviour of a particular person from one situation to another generally remains fairly stable. Such a relatively stable pattern of behaviour represents the 'personality' of that person.
Detailed Explanation
This chunk introduces the concepts of self and personality. The 'self' is how individuals perceive and define themselves, including their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. On the other hand, 'personality' reflects a consistent pattern of behaviors and traits that are stable across different situations. For instance, if someone is generally shy, that characteristic typically appears whether they are at a party or in a classroom, demonstrating their personality. Each individual's self-concept influences their personality and vice versa.
Examples & Analogies
Think of a student who is known to be hardworking and responsible. In various situations like group projects, exams, or class discussions, their consistent diligence reflects their personality. Even when stressed, they tend to keep working hard, showing that their self-concept (seeing themselves as responsible) aligns with their personality traits.
Personal vs. Social Identity
Chapter 2 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
Different persons seem to possess different personalities. These personalities are reflected in the diverse behaviour of persons. Personal identity refers to those attributes of a person that make her/him different from others. When a person describes herself/himself by telling her/his name (e.g., I am Sanjana), or her/his qualities (e.g., I am honest), or her/his potentialities (e.g., I am a singer), s/he is describing her/his personal self. Social identity refers to aspects that link her/him to a social or cultural group.
Detailed Explanation
In this section, personal and social identities are differentiated. Personal identity includes unique traits and characteristics that define an individual, while social identity involves how one relates to groups based on culture, religion, or ethnicity. For instance, a person might identify as a college student (social identity) but might also describe themselves as creative and a leader (personal identity). Understanding this distinction helps in recognizing how our individual characteristics interact with our social roles.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine a football player who sees himself as a champion (personal identity), but when he wears his team's jersey, he also feels a strong sense of belonging to his team and its culture (social identity). This duality often affects how they behave in and out of matches.
Self as Subject and Object
Chapter 3 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
You will find that they have described themselves either as an entity that does something (e.g., I am a dancer) or as an entity on which something is done (e.g., I am one who easily gets hurt). In the former case, the self is described as a 'subject' (who does something); in the latter case, the self is described as an 'object' (which gets affected). This means that self can be understood as a subject as well as an object.
Detailed Explanation
This chunk explains the dual nature of the self. When we see ourselves as subjects, we recognize our agency and actions—like saying, 'I am a leader.' In contrast, viewing oneself as an object indicates how we perceive external influences or effects on us—like saying, 'I am someone who gets anxious under pressure.' This complex understanding of self helps in reflecting on personal growth and responding to external circumstances.
Examples & Analogies
Consider a teacher who views themselves as an 'influencer' of students (subject). Conversely, they might also recognize that they feel overwhelmed by the expectations of students and school administration (object). Balancing both views can lead to personal development and effective emotional regulation.
Dual Status of Self
Chapter 4 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
When you say, 'I know who I am,' the self is being described as a 'knower' as well as something that can be 'known'. As a subject (actor), the self actively engages in the process of knowing itself. As an object (consequence), the self gets observed and comes to be known. This dual status of self should always be kept in mind.
Detailed Explanation
Here, the focus is on the idea that we can be both the knower and that which is known. This engages us in self-reflection—understanding our abilities and feelings while also being aware of how we present ourselves to the world. It implies that personal growth involves recognizing not just our actions (knower) but also the perceptions others have of us (known).
Examples & Analogies
Think about an athlete who knows they are dedicated and hardworking (knower). However, they also realize that their teammates see them as inspirational and driven (known). This reflection can motivate them to continue improving while also recognizing their influence on others.
Identifying Different Selves
Chapter 5 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
There are several kinds of self. They get formed as a result of our interactions with our physical and socio-cultural environments. The first elements of self may be noticed when a newborn child cries for milk when it is hungry. Although this cry is based on reflex, it later on leads to development of awareness that 'I am hungry'. The biological self in the context of socio-cultural environment modifies itself.
Detailed Explanation
This chunk discusses how an individual's self is developed through environmental interactions, highlighting the biological self and its evolution. The first act of a newborn, crying for milk, is instinctive. As the child grows, they learn to associate this basic need with the concept of 'self' and recognition of hunger, which is their early awareness. This demonstrates that our environment shapes the understanding of who we are.
Examples & Analogies
For instance, consider a toddler who learns to express their feelings of hunger. Initially, they might just cry, but later they can articulate, 'I am hungry' or even demand specific foods. This process illustrates how interactions with caregivers aid in the development of self-awareness and identity.
Key Concepts
-
Self: A conscious understanding of oneself.
-
Personal Identity: The traits and qualities that define an individual.
-
Social Identity: Identification with social or cultural groups.
-
Self-Esteem: Value judgment about oneself.
-
Self-Efficacy: Confidence in one’s capability to achieve goals.
-
Self-Regulation: Capacity to control and manage one’s behavior.
Examples & Applications
A student believes they can do well in an exam, which reflects their self-efficacy.
Someone who identifies strongly with their cultural group exemplifies a strong social identity.
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Rhymes
To know thyself is the best wealth, / For self-esteem brings joy and health.
Stories
Imagine a young athlete who believes she can win races (high self-efficacy), but doubts her worth (low self-esteem). As she builds her confidence, she starts winning, ultimately discovering her self-worth.
Memory Tools
P-S-R: Personal, Social, Relational – types of self to remember!
Acronyms
Remember 'S-O' for Subject-Object to distinguish our role in knowing and being known.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Self
An individual's conscious experiences, ideas, thoughts, and feelings regarding themselves.
- Personal Identity
Attributes that define an individual’s sense of self and distinguish them from others.
- Social Identity
Aspects of a person's identity derived from their social or cultural group affiliations.
- Selfesteem
An individual’s self-judgment about their own value or worth.
- Selfefficacy
The belief in one’s ability to succeed in specific situations.
- Selfregulation
The ability to manage and adjust one's behavior in response to external demands.
- Subject and Object
Refers to the dual perspective of the self: as the 'knower' (subject) and as the entity known (object).
Reference links
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.
- Understanding Self-Concept
- Self-Esteem and Its Impact
- Cognitive Theories of Personality
- The Social Self: Identity and Interpersonal Relationships
- Self-Regulation of Behavior
- Bandura's Self-Efficacy
- Rogers' Humanistic Approach
- The Five-Factor Model of Personality
- Understanding Personality Types
- The Role of Identity in Adolescence