Self as subject: a formulation and an assessment strategy

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Philosophy of Mind

Background:

• William James proposed two components of the self: the I-self (subjective, knower) and the me-self (objective, known).
• Historically, quantitative research on the self has predominantly investigated the me-self, focusing on self-concept attributes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the historical focus of quantitative self-research on the object-self (me-self).
• To highlight the aspects of self-concept that have been quantitatively studied.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of quantitative studies on the self, referencing Harter's comprehensive review (1983).
• Analysis of research trends concerning the self as object.

Main Results:

• Quantitative studies have largely concentrated on the me-self, exploring its characteristics.
• Research has examined self-concept elements such as independence, likability, and competence.
• Studies have also investigated discrepancies between real and ideal self-images and developmental shifts in self-concept.

Conclusions:

• The historical quantitative research landscape of the self has been heavily biased towards the object-self (me-self).
• Further exploration into the subjective I-self may offer a more complete understanding of the self.