Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026
06:53
Creating Virtual-hand and Virtual-face Illusions to Investigate Self-representation
Published on: March 1, 2017
Your Self: did you find it or did you make it?
The Journal of Analytical Psychology
|May 23, 2008
Summary
This paper proposes a constructivist view of the self, suggesting the self emerges from social interaction and external recognition, rather than being an inherent, solitary entity. It reconciles paradoxes in psychological theory by emphasizing relational development.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Psychoanalysis
Background:
- Explores paradoxes in Jungian definitions of the self.
- Compares these to Winnicott's 'forbidden question' about transitional objects.
- Addresses contradictions in existing theories of selfhood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a constructivist view of the self.
- To formulate paradoxes in self-theory in an internally consistent way.
- To propose a new framework for understanding self-development.
Main Methods:
- Critically examines Jungian and Winnicottian concepts of the self.
- Proposes a shift from solitary subject to social interaction models.
- Draws on constructivist theories, including those of Harré and Vygotsky.
Main Results:
- The self originates through continuous social interaction.
- The public self precedes the private self.
- Selfhood is realized through recognition by others via language and culture.
Conclusions:
- A constructivist, interaction-based model offers a coherent scientific theory of the self.
- Social interaction and cultural recognition are fundamental to self-formation.
- This perspective resolves apparent paradoxes in existing self-theories.
Related Concept Videos
02:16Self-Schemas
In general, a schema is a mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts (Bartlett, 1932). There are many different types of schemata, and they all have one thing in common: schemata are a method of organizing information that allows the brain to work more efficiently. When a schema is activated, the brain makes immediate assumptions about the person or object being observed.
02:57The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...
01:28The Looking Glass Self
The concept of the looking-glass self describes how an individual's self-concept is shaped by their perception of how others see them. This psychological theory, first introduced by sociologist Charles Horton Cooley in 1902, posits that self-identity emerges in a social context and is influenced by the judgments—real or imagined—of others.Research suggests that individuals frequently overestimate how positively others perceive them. This is particularly evident in physical self-perception,...
01:28Understanding the Self
The self is a central aspect of human identity, encompassing an individual’s beliefs, emotions, perceptions, and experiences. It is a cognitive and psychological construct that enables individuals to interpret their traits and behaviors, influencing how they perceive themselves and interact with the world. While personality consists of stable and enduring characteristics, the self is shaped by self-perception and social experiences. This distinction highlights the dynamic nature of the self,...
01:20Understanding Self-Concept
The self-concept encompasses individuals' beliefs about themselves, structured through cognitive frameworks known as self-schemas. These schemas function as mental representations of specific traits or behaviors, influencing how self-relevant information is perceived, processed, and remembered. For example, individuals who are schematic for body weight are more likely to interpret routine experiences—such as dining out or shopping—through the lens of that trait. Conversely, those aschematic for...
01:29Self-Serving Bias
Self-serving bias is a cognitive phenomenon in which individuals attribute positive outcomes to internal factors such as their abilities, intelligence, or effort while attributing negative outcomes to external circumstances. This cognitive distortion helps maintain self-esteem but can also impede objective self-assessment.Theoretical Explanations of Self-Serving BiasTwo primary theories explain the self-serving bias: the cognitive explanation and the motivational explanation.The cognitive...