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Theories of the self
1Consolidated Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass., USA.
Harvard Review of Psychiatry
|November 1, 1996
Summary
This review traces the evolution of self theories from ancient philosophy to modern psychoanalysis. It synthesizes key concepts from thinkers like James, Freud, and Kohut, offering a unified perspective on the self.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Philosophy
- Psychoanalysis
Background:
- The concept of the self has a long and complex history.
- Numerous theorists have contributed to understanding the nature of the self.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the historical and conceptual development of self theories.
- To highlight common themes and differences among key theorists.
- To present a synthesis of modern developments in self theory.
Main Methods:
- Historical review of philosophical and psychological texts.
- Analysis of major theorists' contributions to self psychology.
- Conceptual synthesis of diverse theoretical perspectives.
Main Results:
- The self concept evolved from ancient Vedic thought through Socratic philosophy.
- Modern psychoanalytic thinkers (James, Freud, Klein, Fairbairn, Sullivan, Winnicott, Kohut) refined self theories.
- A synthesis of these developments offers a comprehensive view of the self.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the self requires integrating historical and modern perspectives.
- Key psychoanalytic figures significantly advanced the concept of the self.
- The author's work provides a novel synthesis of self theories.