Integrating the Psychodynamic and Cognitive Selves

Abstract

Even though Westen was not attempting to identify the neurological basis for the self, after reviewing each and every self-representation that he presents, I, like Dennett, found myself wondering just what this thing is that we call the self. To formulate an integrated theory of the self is indeed a monumental project. In this commentary, I discuss several fundamental issues pertinent to an integrated theory of the self.