A Multiple Self Theory of the Mind

Abstract

Lester (2010) has proposed a multiple self theory of the mind in formal terms, with 12 postulates and 49 corollaries (see the Appendix). The present essay presents the views of other theorists who have proposed similar ideas (Rita Carter and Shlomo Mendelovic) and some applications of a multiple self theory, including Robert Lifton's concept of the Protean Self, shifting in African American female professionals, and academic teaching personae. A perusal of most textbooks designed for courses on theories of personality reveals the influence of two themes. The first is that many psychologists believe that human behavior is determined in part, and some believe completely, by stimuli in the environment. This is evident from the inclusion of a chapter on Skinner’s learning theory which may be appropriately be described as a theory of no mind. Textbooks also usually present the ideas of Walter Mischel (1968) who argued that people behaved differently because of the different situations in which they found themselves and because of their different histories of learning. Mischel later modified this extreme view, but its influence persists today. The second is the notion that humans have a single self. Some theorists argue that this is always the case, while others argue that integrating the various components of the mind into a single self is a task for the second half of life. This view has been argued most forcefully by Baumeister (1998), who stated: “The multiplicity of selfhood is a metaphor. The unity of selfhood is a defining fact” (p. 682). In fact, Baumeister presented no facts to back up his assertion, and so it could just as appropriately be asserted that the unity of the self is a metaphor while the multiplicity of the self is a fact. A contrasting view, that the mind is made of a multiplicity of selves, was stated most clearly by Andras Angyal (1965) whose theory of the mind is, unfortunately, rarely mentioned in personality textbooks (www.panarchy.org/angyal/personality.html). Although a holistic theorist, Angyal proposed that the mind is made up of subsystems which interact, resulting in setting and shifting sets, as one after another subsystem takes over control of the mind and which sometimes conflict, resulting in symptoms of pressure, intrusion and invasion. Angyal’s presentation of his theory remained abstract, but later theorists provided illustrations of Angyal’s ideas without, however, acknowledging Angyal’s contribution. For example, Eric Berne (1961) proposed the existence of ego states (Parent, Adult, and Child) that control the mind at different times (that is, each assumes executive power temporarily) and come into conflict (leading to contamination, a situation that resembles Angyal’s concept of intrusion). The theory that mind is made up of multiple selves has been proposed most forcefully in recent years by John Rowan (1990; www.JohnRowan.org.uk) and David Lester (2010; www.drdavidlester.net). Rowan prefers to use the term subpersonalities, while Lester uses the term subselves or multiple selves. Lester’s theory is the most formal presentation, and he laid out his theory in 10 postulates and 49 corollaries. These are presented in the Appendix to this essay. Open Access: http://www.amsciepub.com/doi/abs/10.2466/02.09.28.CP.1.5