Psychological Perspectives on the Self

The psychological perspective of the self encompasses various theories that explain its formation, development, and nature. Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory posits that personality is structured by the id (pleasure principle), ego (reality principle), and superego (morality), which are often in conflict. Development occurs through psychosexual stages (oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital), where unresolved conflicts can lead to fixations.

Carl Jung's theory of the self centers on archetypes, universal models residing in the collective unconscious. The Self is the central archetype, representing the totality of the psyche, while other archetypes like the Persona (social mask), Shadow (repressed aspects), and Anima/Animus (contrasexual elements) contribute to personality.

Albert Bandura's agentic perspective views individuals as proactive agents who originate their experiences, rather than merely reacting to them. Human agency is characterized by intentionality (purposeful behavior), forethought (anticipating outcomes), self-reactiveness (regulating actions), and self-reflectiveness (modifying thoughts and behaviors).

The concept of multiple selves highlights that individuals possess various role identities (e.g., student, dancer) active at different times. Symbolic interactionism emphasizes how relationships and shared meanings (e.g., symbols) shape the self, often leading to self-fulfilling prophecies where one acts according to perceived expectations. The looking-glass self involves imagining how others perceive us, influencing our self-concept.

Finally, the distinction between the false self (Ego) and the true self (Soul) is crucial. The Ego is associated with separation, judgment, pride, and fear, representing a superficial or constructed identity. In contrast, the Soul embodies oneness, compassion, gratitude, peace, and self-acceptance, representing an authentic self. During adolescence, individuals face the challenge of integrating these multiple selves into a coherent and unified theory of self.