GOA CAMPUS

Lesson 3

Psychological Views of the Self

Name of Student: ​ Week Number: 3​ _____

Course Code: GE1​ Name of Faculty: Maribet Barrun​
Course Title: Science, Technology and
Society____

The study of how people think about themselves and how their sense of self changes over
time is known as the psychological perspective of the self. It plays a crucial role in human motivation,
social identity, and cognition.

I.​Objectives

After this lesson, the student should be able to:

1. Explain the concept of the “self”.

2. Illustrate the following concepts for real-life experiences.
• Ideal self vs. real self
• Id, ego and superego
• Psychosocial theory
• Archetypes

II.​Lesson
Diagnostic: Identify yourself in three elements:

Self-Image Self-Esteem Ideal Self

How you see yourself based on Your positive and negative feelings Based on one’s hope and wishes
your strengths and weaknesses you have about yourself you would like to become

​
Lesson Proper:

The self has many aspects that help make up an integral part of it. The psychology of self,
either cognitive or affective. Represents one’s identity.

“Self” from four psychologists/physician:

1. Sigmund Freud - neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis

Self is the interaction between the three structures of the mind: the Id, Ego and
Super Ego.

1856-1939

Austrian Neurologist
Defense Mechanism

Defense mechanisms are strategies that are unconsciously used to protect a person
from anxiety arising from unacceptable thoughts or feelings. According to Freud, defense
mechanisms involve distortion of reality in some way so that we are better able to cope with
situation.

1. Compensation

Compensation occurs when we do not like an aspect of our self or our behavior, and we
perceive it as negative. In turn, we develop aspects and behaviors that we do in fact like about
ourselves to compensate for the previously disliked concept.

2. Denial

Denial is a concept we as humans are fairly familiar with. It’s the act of rejecting a self-concept
or notion that we in fact know is true, but that is not ideal and sometimes too unbearable to
accept.

3. Displacement

Displacement is the process in which we let out our feelings and frustrations on a substitute
target that is not the actual target of our emotions.

4. Identification

Identification is when we identify ourselves with an image that we see as ideal to our ego. We
associate ourselves with groups, movements, and people we see as who we wish to be.

5. Introjection

Introjection is the process in which we accept standards to be true to avoid scrutiny. This can
be looked at as an extreme form of conformity.

6. Projection
 Projection occurs when we attribute our negative self-concepts of our self onto others.

7. Reaction Formation

It is a process in which we mask negative emotions or self-concepts by doing the exact

opposite
of what that concept or emotion exhibit

8. Rationalization.

Rationalization is an explanation we conceive as to why we should or should not feel a

particular way or take credit for our behaviors. It is what we tell ourselves to make ourselves
feel better about something.

9. Regression

Regression is the act of retreating to infantile defenses. We do this because as a child, life is less
threatening. Retreating back to these defenses may make the situation feel less threatening
than it really is.

10. Repression

Repression may be the most unknown, yet interesting defense mechanism. Repression occurs
unconsciously, and sometimes unknowingly. It is when our mind has perceived something as
too painful for our own being, thus pushing it out of our conscious awareness. Repression may
be a choice, but keeping it in our unconscious is done entirely by our mind without our saying
so. When things are repressed, we have absolutely no awareness of it.

11. Ritual & Undoing

Ritual & Undoing is the process of trying to undo some type of unacceptable behavior by
masking it with a positive behavior, or ritual.

12. Sublimation

Sublimation is the only defense mechanism that is positive in all of its aspects. It is considered
the healthiest. Sublimation is the process of taking negative self-concepts and diverting them
into more socially acceptable concepts that are beneficial.

Defense Mechanisms are very interesting and important in our lives. They help us to
understand our actions and emotions better than we would have normally. Personally, through
my knowledge of defense mechanisms, I am able to distinguish between my reactions, and alter
them to be more productive. Although there are many more developed theories on defense
mechanisms, Sigmund Freud changed the way we think about our reactions through his 12
foundational defense mechanisms. Just like they have helped me in my life, I only hope they
will help you as well.

2. Carl Jung – Swiss psychologist and psychiatrist.

 The 4 main archetypes
These four main archetypes include (Jung, 1959; Shiraev, 2017)

1. The self – it symbolizes the psyche

2. The persona – It is the mask you use to present yourself to the world.

3. The shadow – It is the darker side of you. This consist of sex and life instincts.

4. The anima/animus – these are the masculine/feminine aspects of personality that all people
have

3. Erik Erikson – German-American developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst

Erikson's Freudia life stage / relationships / basic virtue maladaptation

psychosocial n issues and second /
crisis stages psycho- named malignancy(pote
(syntonic v sexual strength ntial negative
dystonic) stages (potential outcome - one or
positive the other - from
outcomes from unhelpful
each crisis) experience during
each crisis)
1. Trust v Oral infant / mother / feeding and Hope and Drive Sensory Distortion
Mistrust being comforted, teething, / Withdrawal
sleeping
2. Autonomy Anal toddler / parents / bodily Willpower Impulsivity /
v Shame & functions, toilet training, and Compulsion
Doubt muscular control, walking Self-Control
3. Initiative v Phallic preschool / family / Purpose Ruthlessness /
Guilt exploration and discovery, and Inhibition
adventure and play Direction
4. Industry v Latency schoolchild / school, Competence Narrow Virtuosity
Inferiority teachers, friends, and Method / Inertia
neighbourhood /achievement
and accomplishment
5. Identity v Puberty adolescent / peers, groups, Fidelity Fanaticism /
Role and influences / resolving identity and Repudiation
Confusion Genitality and direction, becoming a Devotion
grown-up
6. Intimacy v (Genitality) young adult / lovers, Love and Promiscuity /
Isolation friends, work connections / Affiliation Exclusivity
intimate relationships, work
and social life
 7. n/a mid-adult / children, Care and Overextension
Generativity community / 'giving back', Production / Rejectivity
v Stagnation helping, contributing
8. Integrity v n/a late adult / society, the Wisdom and Presumption /
Despair world, life / meaning and Renunciation Disdain
purpose, life
achievements

Erik Erikson believed that the psychosocial development theory works in chronological order
and is
applicable to different cultures. Knowing this may help yourself and others in understanding the self, in
accordance with which stage you are.

4. Carl Rogers – American humanistic psychology and father of psychotherapy.

Rogers contended that self-concept is composed of three elements:

1. Self-Image

Your self-image is how you see yourself based on your strength and weakness. How you
think and feel about your appearance, your task performance, and your social relationships
consistently affect your self-image.

2. Self-Esteem

Self-esteem refers to positive and negative feelings you have about yourself. When you
feel that you are good, then your self-esteem is high. Overlay high self-esteem, however, can
have a negative effect. Possible links to high self-esteem are bullying, increase social
comparisons,
and prejudice or racism.

Self-esteem helps us to:

 3. Ideal Self

Ideal self is based on one’s hopes and wishes based on how a person would like to
become. If there is big gap between how you see yourself and what you would like to become, it
will somehow affect how you value yourself.

Let’ Check Your Progress!

What to do… After exploring the conflicting views about “self” by the different psychologist
and
physicians, kindly answer the following questions.

1. Discuss the salient features of the “self” according to the following psychologists/physicians
in
no more than three sentence. (5 points each)

a. Sigmund Freud

2. Carl Jung
 3. Erik Erikson

4. Carl Rogers

2. In no more than five sentences, deliberate on how the views of the different thinkers
influenced your understanding of your “self.” (5 points)

III. References

Corpuz, Brenda B. et al., Understanding the Self. Lorimar Publishing, Inc. Philippines. 2020
Dula, Rosalita M., et al. Understanding the Self. REX Bookstore. Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City,
Manila, Philippines. 1st ed. 2023
Magalona, E., Sadsad, E., Cruz, E.R., Lauigan, M.C. Mindshapers Co., INC., Intramuros, Manila,
Philippines. 2018
Villafuerte, S.L., Quillope, A.F., Tunac, R.C., Borja, E.I. (2018). Understanding the Self. Nieme
Publishing House Co. LTD. Quezon City.Philippines
John Chaffee. Who are You? Consciousness, identity and the Self. In The Philosopher’s Way:
 Thinking Critically about Profound Ideas. 4th Edition. Boston: Pearson.101-169. 2013
Macayan, J.V., Pinugu, and J.N.J., Castillo, J.C.D. Understanding the Self Outcome-Based Module.
C&E Publishing, Inc., Quezon City Philippines. 2018
Brawner,D.G., Arcega, A.F. ,Understanding the Self. C&E Publishing, Inc., Quezon City, Philippines.
2018
Magalona, E., Sadsad, E., Cruz, E.R., Lauigan, M.C., Mindshapers Co., INC.,Intramuros, Manila,
Philippines. 2018
Margo, Demello, (2014). Beautiful Bodies, 173-188; and- Fat and Thin Bodies, 189-205 in Body
Studies: An Introduction. London and New York: Routledge
R. Feldman. Understanding Psychology, 8th ed. McGraww Hill (2006); Module p 33
Understanding Human Sexual Response pp369-375); Module 35- Diversity of Sexual Behavior
pp379-385); Module p 36., Sexual Difficulties., 2014. pp51-98.

Online source:

https://www.google.com/search?q=psychological+view+of+self&rlz
https://psychologyeducational.com/freuds-psychosexual-theory/blogs/
https://www.google.com/search
https://positivepsychology.com/jungian-archetypes