Thine Own Self

The Existence of Multiple Identities In the essay, “In Defense of Masks”, by Kenneth Gergen, the author argues that we cannot be true to ourselves because we do not have a basic self identity. According to Gergen, psychologists make false assumptions: that one, every person can find their own sense of identity and two, that it is perfectly healthy to do so. In context with the author’s argument, studies have been conducted in order to evaluate different ‘masks’ of identity. One study involved…

Danielle Dennett’s short tale Where Am I? focuses on the metaphysical and physical dilemma where the idea of the self truly supervenes with the aid of a sci-fi short tale. Insofar, there is a constant displacement in where the idea of the self is, when separated which is as four locations in the tale.insofar viewing these possible locations in his story, and explaining why he can possibly be each these locations. I will thereafter interpret these ideas further with a philosophical view in how…

A self image consist of the idea one has of one’s abilities, appearance, and personality. As for Grendel a descendant of the biblical Cain, his self image changes throughout the novel. Either from the visit with the dragon or simply observing the Shaper. From the beginning to the end of the novel Grendel’s self image alters; therefore, I will explain different quotes showing Grendel’s change. Three characters that have had a huge impact on the effect of Grendel’s personality would be Hrothgar,…

Identity is an enigma that every teenager struggles with. It's the conflict in each of our very own Bildungsromans - who are we? When I started the Common Application on August 1st, being the overachiever that I am, I believed that I did not have an identity to write about. I knew that I liked reading and music or that I hated algebra, but I didn't have an overarching sense of self. How could I write about myself in such a way as to impress admissions officers when I didn't even think I had a…

Defining the Self Can you really interpret oneself? If so, how can one person be continuously developing and be defined for that precise amount of time? Every day you are constantly changing, some people with dispute at the fact that they never really change, that they have always been the same. To me, I believe that it is fallacious, we humans evolve over time and we learn through experiences that come our way. The self is actually a problematical concept, the destiny of the self creates so…

picture of an individual’s psychology, it was helpful to incorporate self psychology theory in order to further understand Melissa. Self psychology focuses on the development of the cohesive self through interactions with selfobjects, which may be a person, various forms of art, or other symbols. Selfobjects validate and attune to the individual (Flanagan, 2011). According to Kohut, there are three poles of the self: the grandiose self, the idealized parental imago, and twinship (Flanagan,…

Finding that we are embattled in a ‘culture war.’ How particular groups within society are permitted, to be represented all affect out identity of self and most importantly how we see each other. Thompson then goes on to explain that the ‘regulation of the mass media has become a concern of modern governments’ which is not without cause. The press is self regulated, by a department that they refer to as IPSO. With the lack of an external body that can determine what is and is not acceptable…

Throughout our life there are moments where it is detrimental to our sense of self that we feel as though we belong. This could be when we are growing up as a child, which would be arguably one of the most important times of the development of our sense of self, and perhaps as we are teenager’s as we try to fit in socially, and then finally the transition from adolescent to adult as we try to gain a sense of who we are in this life and what our purposes are. This can often be considered as the…

The social hierarchy does not provide a way for those on the bottom to escape the bottom. They remain at the lowest of the low purely because there is profit to be made from the suffering of the inferior. The psychologist John C Turner examined the consistency of one’s identity in a group and its inability to change: “It is the awareness of the existence of categories which generates the in-group response, not necessarily past hostility nor objective conflict. Identity within a group is either…

perceive their physical self and the thoughts and feelings accompanying that perception. (National Eating Disorders Collaboration, 2015). There is both unhealthy and healthy body image. Healthy body image is present in an individual who is content in one 's own skin, accepting and happy in their own body and feels good within their self. This perception also understands that one 's inner self is what’s important rather than the view that appearance determines a person’s self-value. Unhealthy…