SELF Research Articles

Notes on the Existential and Interactional Dimensions of Authenticity: A Symbolic Interactionist Study of Breast Cancer Internet Forums

Notes on the Existential and Interactional Dimensions of Authenticity: A Symbolic Interactionist Study of Breast Cancer Internet Forums

Behavioral Perspectives on Personality and Self

In many accounts of personality, the positions of behavioral writers are rarely presented in depth and it assumed that behavioral writers have neglected the topic of personality. In reality, since the very beginnings of behaviorism, behavioral theorists have devoted considerable attention to the topic of personality, and a term Skinner equated with personality, the self. This paper summarizes some of the major assumptions of traditional personality theory and theory of self, and then summarizes the positions of various behavioral theorists such as John Watson, B. F. Skinner, Arthur Staats, and others on personality and self. Behavioral theorists have not neglected these topics, and behavioral accounts of these topics present a more parsimonious view. Personality and the self are behavior in need of explanation, in contrast to the belief that personality and the self function to explain as well as cause behavior.

The Self- Who Am I?: Children’s Identity and Development through Early Childhood Education

Children develop self-identity, who they believe themselves to be, and begin to form relationships through play and peer relations which contribute to their emotional, social and cognitive development. Theories of self generally agree that an early childhood program can foster children’s self- esteem and build the foundation for future relationships with others. From interviews and observations, 4 to 6 year olds portray their internal lives of self, construct their personal identity, and how these may affect the learning process. The sample was drawn from 3 pre-school classes in Kenya, consisting of 35 boys and 23 girls (N=58) Sampled expressions of self through children’s writings, drawings, dialogues and scaffolding tasks are discussed. The study makes reference to Vygotsky’s theoretical framework of social learning theory, highlighting the links between children’s learning, play, language, peer relationships and identity. The challenges for early childhood Education and Care are explored while trying to answer questions of identity facing young children such as, ‘Who am I?’ ‘What will I be when I grow up?’ Data from children’s expressions show that identity differs from one child to another, and that children’s self can be modified. The notion of ‘identities’ rather than an ‘identity’ emerged. The study indicates that children’s selves are shaped by local the environment, values, and each child’s unique development. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2015.v5n1p95

A GENEALOGY OF SELF IN CHINESE CULTURE

自我在中國文化中的譜系此項「自我在中國文化中的譜系」研究包括三個互為關聯的階段：(一) 字源 及語義的分析、(二) 重要文化符號的辨認和分析，(三) 論述分析。 字源分析 首先發現自我的概念跟身體的概念有着密切關係，語義分析繼而顯示自主性 及自我修養的集體意識，亦反映着自我與他者的多元關係。 以上的發現，均 成為後續兩個研究階段的線索。 階段二的研究，以牧牛圖和太極拳為兩個重 點分析的文化符號；並應用了本雅明 (Walter Benjamin) 的方法，大量地搜集 片言隻語以及影像，且試圖對有關自我的內隱概念進行理論性建構。 透過對 上述兩個重要文化符號的分析，呈現出關於自我覺察、自我轉化，和自我超 越的內隱理論。 我們可以視這兩個文化符號為「辨證性影像」，用以抗衡中 國文化中有關他者遠比自我重要的刻板印象。 第三階段的論述分析為前述兩 個階段的延伸，亦以傅柯 (Michel Foucault) 的方法為本，包括着眼於有效言 說的規律性、論述的形成與轉化、權威的角色，以及論述的實踐策畧等。 論 述分析的主題包括「形神共養」、「形、氣、神」三位一體的概念演構、 「養氣」的傳統，以及道德自我理念的成熟化。 此外，郭店出土的竹簡所帶 來對自我譜系的新認識，亦是討論的焦點。 關於個體性論述在傳统和現代中 國的形成與轉化，亦為分析對象。 綜合分析，一種關於自我關顧及自我修養 的深厚傳统，處處展示於中國歷史中。 中國文化中的自我，經常與他者有着緊密關係，不管他者所指涉的是重要他者、社羣中的他人，還是大自然界。 至於中國文化中自我跟道德的密切關係，也是值得注视的。總而言之，本研究顯示譜系研究的進路富有潛力。 經此進路，本研究一 方面可以反映自我在中國文化中的豐富性和多元性；另一方面亦可通過分析 「家族相似性」來發現自我在中國文化中的原型。 透過自我關顧及自我修養 作為主要機制，這個原型在中國文化中表現為自我覺察、自我轉化和自我超 越的一個整體性發展歷程。 此一研究進路兼具促進不同文化間交流的作用， 研究過程也讓我們對譜系研究的方法改良及局限性作出更深入的思考。

Time seizures and the self: institutional temporalities and self-preservation among homeless women.

This article documents temporalities of homelessness as experienced by many homeless people today, those living in the midst of an urban "services ghetto"-where social service organizations abound, but such organizations fail to coordinate the provision or timing of services, producing an incoherent multiplicity of offerings and schedules. I analyzed distinct but related temporal modes by which institutional timetables controlled homeless women's existence, what I call empty time and overscheduled time. The paradoxes of institutionalized waiting and strict yet inconsistent timetables exacted profound material and psychological tolls. For homeless women in Chicago, many of whom experienced symptoms of severe mental illness, simply securing their daily needs was such a time-consuming endeavor that they had to focus on short-term self-preservation rather than seeking stable employment or housing. Using anthropological theories of self and subjectivity, I argue that what was at stake for many women was more than the exhaustion of shelter life-negotiating institutional timetables also threatened their sense of dignity and humanity. Through the everyday patterning of women's time, non-profit agencies whose stated aim was to eliminate homelessness paradoxically frustrated women's efforts to escape life on the streets. I conclude the analysis with policy suggestions to address these problems.

A Spirituality of Openness: Christian Ecofeminist Perspectives and Inter-religious Dialogue

Feminists have critiqued assumptions and structures of inter-religious dialogue even as they have acknowledged the need for more feminist presence in this area. Because ecofeminist values span religious differences, exploring a spirituality evident across Christian ecofeminist authors makes a contribution to inter-religious feminist work. A spirituality of openness manifests in four prominent themes which recur across diverse Christian ecofeminist thinkers. Each of these themes arises from a foundational orientation to openness. Relational theories of self are grounded in the openness of fluid identity construction; a stress on personal narrative as a relational way of knowing depends upon the openness of experiencing subjects to each other; an ethic of risk and discernment emphasizes openness in the courage and responsibility required to act within ambiguity; and the openness of receptivity is a prerequisite for engaging the potentially transformative power of beauty.

Darkly Dreaming (in) Authenticity: The Self/Persona Opposition in Dexter

In ‘Darkly Dreaming (in) Authenticity: The Self/Persona Opposition in Dexter,’ Glenn D'Cruz uses Dexter Morgan, the novelised serial killer and Showtime TV anti-hero to examine the connections between self and persona and the discourse of authenticity. D’Cruz foresees a series of challenges for persona studies and considers key concerns ahead, in terms of the critical vocabulary and scholarly agenda and addresses the need for critical genealogy of the term ‘persona’.

Notes on Contributors

Notes on Contributors

Expressed Sense of Self by People With Alzheimer's Disease in a Support Group Interpreted in Terms of Agency and Communion.

The self is constructed in cooperation with other people and social context influences how people perceive and express it. People with Alzheimer's disease (AD) often receive insufficient support in constructing their preferred selves, but little is known about how they express themselves together with other people with AD. In accordance with Harré's social constructionist theory of self, this study aimed to describe how five people with mild and moderate AD express their Self 2 (i.e., their personal attributes and life histories) in a support group with a facilitator experienced in communicating with people with AD. The participants' expressions of their Self 2 were analyzed with qualitative abductive content analysis and interpreted in terms of agency and communion and a lack of agency and communion. The findings highlight the importance of supporting a sense of agency and communion when assisting people with AD in constructing their self.

EXAMINING THE BODHISATTVA'S BRAIN

AbstractOwen Flanagan's The Bodhisattva's Brain aims to introduce secular‐minded thinkers to Buddhist thought and motivate its acceptance by analytic philosophers. I argue that Flanagan provides a compelling caution against the hasty generalizations of recent “science of happiness” literature, which correlates happiness with Buddhism on the basis of certain neurological studies. I contend, however, that his positive account of Buddhist ethics is less persuasive. I question the level of engagement with Buddhist philosophical literature and challenge Flanagan's central claim, that a Buddhist version of eudaimonia is a common core conception shared by all Buddhists. I argue that this view is not only a rational reconstruction in need of argumentation but is in tension with competing Buddhist metaphysical theories of self, including the one Flanagan himself endorses.

Culture‐Inclusive Theories of Self and Social Interaction: The Approach of Multiple Philosophical Paradigms

AbstractIn view of the fact that culture‐inclusive psychology has been eluded or relatively ignored by mainstream psychology, the movement of indigenous psychology is destined to develop a new model of man that incorporates both causal psychology and intentional psychology as suggested by Vygotsky (1927). Following the principle of cultural psychology: “one mind, many mentalities” (Shweder et al., 1998), the Mandala Model of Self (Hwang, 2011a,b) and Face and Favor Model (Hwang, 1987, 2012) were constructed to represent the universal mechanisms of self and social interaction that can be applied to any culture; both models can be used as conceptual frameworks for analyzing mentalities of people in any given culture. Taking research works from Foundations of Chinese Psychology: Confucian Social Relation as exemplars (Hwang, 2012), this article illustrates how to construct culture‐inclusive theories of Confucianism by multiple philosophical paradigms. The mechanism of culture‐inclusive theory can be applied to explain qualitative research findings on lifeworld events of people in a particular society. It can also be utilized to predict results of quantitative research conducted to verify theoretical propositions in the scientific microworld by empirical methods.

Can I get a Witness? The Role of the Audience in Impression Management Effectiveness

Using Goffman’s (1959) original dramaturgical theory of self- presentation, we argue that impression management can be most effectively measured by the audience, to whom the behaviors are targeted. This approach differs from the majority of extant impression management research that employs measures of impression management from the actor. By switching the focus from the actor to the audience, we bring research on impression management back to its theoretical roots and offer a rationale for the varied and inconsistent findings reported in the literature. Using a sample of 175 employees and their supervisors, we examine and compare impression management ratings from both the employee and supervisor, and the ability of those ratings to predict supervisor liking for the employee and employee performance. In addition, we explore the notion that the inconsistency in prior research on impression management also may be explained by potential curvilinear relationships between impression management ratings and key outcome variables that have yet to be tested. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research, also are provided.

The intentionality of madness: Checking the cognitive issues in DSM-based diagnosis

In this paper I discuss John Searle?s selective view of intentionality of mental states, and place it in the context of impairment to personal identity that occurs in mental illness. I criticize Searle?s view that intentionality characterizes some but not all mental states; I do so both on principled and on empirical grounds. I then proceed to examine the narrative theory of self, advanced by Paul Ricoeur, Marya Schechtman and others, and explore the extent to which the theory fits a more generalized view of intentionality that would apply to all mental states. This discussion is followed by a brief consideration of the way in which the modern DSM-based psychiatric diagnosis and treatment, reductively and mechanistically, dispenses with the issues of ?strong ontology?, namely the life events and values that mental states might in fact reach for, even when ostensibly without reference. In this sense, DSM-inspired psychiatry is based on a Searlian view of mental states. It is contrasted with the narrative theory of self (and therefore also of mental states) which, rather than defining madness by clusters of symptoms, seeks to understand the underlying ontology of reference by looking for both the initial script of the person?s ?life narrative? and for ruptures and knots in that narrative that might give rise to madness. Finally I discuss and evaluate the perspective of personality enhancement through counseling aimed at repairing the personal narrative.

GRESSION, REGRESSION, AND BEYOND: A Cognitive Reading of

1. Introduction: A Cognitive JourneyIt is fairly odd discovering, in letter to Georges Duthuit at very beginning of June 1949 - only two months after having started to draft The Unnamable, in one of gloomiest periods of his creative career - Beckett was reading Around World in 80 Days, positively classified as lively stuff (LSB II, 163). Given descending, excavating nature of last novel of trilogy, it would have been less surprising to find mention of equally famous masterpiece by Verne, Voyage au centre de la Terre (1864). Yet, in less local scrutiny, both horizontal, superficial (and significantly circular) orbit of Phileas Fogg's enterprise, and vertical, geologically stratified axis of Professor Lidenbrok's quest are present in Beckett's narrative work. However, these two movements are not simultaneously operative, but rather are subsequently exploited throughout Beckett's narrative trajectory. As Mark Nixon elucidates, sometime after Murphy there is turning point in how trope of journey is treated in Beckett's fiction, since Beckett has accepted that there was no 'to' or 'towards', and thus no redemptive destination (191). The horizontal pointless excursions of Belacqua across Irish cityscapes or Murphy's wandering in outer of London progressively come to an end in trilogy - passing, as Shane Weller argues, from object-world or subject-world of Murphy to flight from all world in Malone meurt (Weller, 109). This is not to say trope of journey disappears from Beckett's literary imagination. Rather, as Nixon indicates, it remains central to Beckett's postwar work, but is negated (97) or, would suggest, inverted (The Unnamable being a kind of inverted spiral, (Beckett 2009, 310)). The horizontal plane of movement is replaced by vertical expedition, and Belacqua's gression (Beckett 2010, 33) is substituted by an inward plunge, of which The Unnamable constitutes endless bottom. In this narrative manoeuvre, different 'towardness' emerges, for Beckett understands, as we shall see, outward journey in search of self is wrong figure (qtd. in Knowlson, 247). An alternative exploration has to be directed on way to what he calls of (247) by going beyond what is called in Molloy the surface leaden above infernal depths (Beckett 2009, 73) of mind from which illusion of selfhood stems.In present article, want to account for this second speleological journey in Beckett's fictional work by drawing on contemporary cognitive theories of self.1 On one hand, want to suggest that, in The Unnamable, Beckett does indeed reach some kind of centre of subjective planet, structure and functions of which resemble those qualities philosopher of mind Daniel Dennett attributes to what he calls center of narrative gravity (1991, 418). This parallel should enrich interpretation of outcome of this expedition, with discovery feeling of seed of (narrative) motion is false sensory impression responsible for stupid obsession with depth (Beckett 2009, 287), which in turn accounts for conception and perception of self as an internal locus of subjectivity. Furthermore, put this narrative account of self into relation with two distinct problems related to self-consciousness: namely, problems of circularity and of infinite regress. As we shall see, The Unnamable can be read as fictional rendering of these two complications indissolubly bounded to an ontology of self-knowledge. On other hand, elaborate on remarkable similarities between three-levels model of self proposed by neuroscientist Antonio Damasio (2010), and distinct cognitive levels narrator of The Unnamable lets reader perceive, especially by pointing beyond its linguistic existence. In letter to Aidan Higgins in 1952, Beckett wrote about The Unnamable as the end of jaunt, going further by saying I used to think all [t]his work was an effort, necessarily feeble, to express nothing. …

Wildness, Loss, Death

In the last year of his brilliant career, José Esteban Muñoz flirted with “the wild” and considered the possibility that this term, even with its blighted colonial etymology, might be one of the building blocks of a new critical vocabulary for thinking race, sexuality, and the undercommons together. Drawn to Wu Tsang’s 2011 film, Wildness, and in dialogue with Jane Bennett’s Vibrant Matter and its “political ecology of things,” Muñoz extended his thinking on death, loss, and utopia from Cruising Utopia and began an investigation into a postcolonial rendering of the wild. And Muñoz’s interest in the disorderly histories of wildness placed him in conversation with an eclectic array of theoretical currents from new materialism to object-oriented ontology, from animal studies to new animism, from diasporic anthropology to new postidentity theories of self and other. Muñoz was also in a deep conversation with Tavia Nyong’o and myself about the potential of queer wildness, and like Nyong’o and me, he glimpsed potential in a terminology that has been represented as exhausted by its imperial function. This essay thinks with the traces that Muñoz left behind of a project on queer wildness.

Power, Gender, and The Politics of Our Selves

Amy Allen’s insightful and nuanced feminist critical-theoretical account of the politics of our selves could be strengthened with a more complex and differentiated account of power and of gender, and of the social as a site of multiple conflicting and contesting relations. Such an account would adhere more consistently to Allen’s own project of understanding subjects to be constituted through both relations of power and relations of interdependence and mutuality, care and solidarity. The development of this account, and of a situated account of desire or motivation, is essential for a feminist critical theory of self and social transformation.

A REVIEW ON NARCISSISM AND RESEARCHES RELATED NARCISSISM

In this era that we live in there are such personality structures that we call ‘narcissism’ which is based on the Greek Mythology as the person who sees there is own reflection on the water and from this reflection he falls in love, in other words falls in love with oneself and throughout his life strives to find this love that can never reached. Narcissism is sepearted into two as being normal and pathological. The biggest help in understanding narcissism comes from the psychoanalytical theroies of objcet consistency and theory of self but the importance and severity of the disorder was stated in the DSM-III (Ozan ve ark., 1980). There are many research taken place on Narcissism and many measurements enabled in this research. There are dynamically orientated with projective tests and descriptive orientated objective tests among these studies. This article’s aim is to discuss Narcissism’s development process from the first time when it was found until today with interesting findings. Keywords: Narcissistic, Normal Narcissism, Pathological Narcissism, Narcissistic personality disorder, Measurements of Narcissism, Studies on Narcissism

The Effect of New Religious Movement Affiliation and Disaffiliation on Reflexivity and Sense of Self

Challenging the contemporary belief that emotional damage invariably results from new religious movement (NRM) participation, this study shows that membership in and exit from a world‐rejecting NRM may initiate the development of increased reflexivity and a personal sense of self for some former members. Out of a sample of 23 former members, 12 participants were identified who report prior histories of “other‐directedness” and for whom exit from an NRM instigated a shift toward increased independence and individuality. Employing symbolic interactionist theories of self, this article conceptualizes the process through which these participants may be understood to have gained in reflexivity and personal autonomy. Four case studies demonstrate how the identity loss and uncertainty suffered following exit can “shock” former members into self‐awareness and reflexivity, instigating a period of active learning about personal emotions, thoughts, and beliefs that leads to the active construction of a stronger personal self.

Music Appreciation and Self-actualization of Gifted Students

Abstract Music appreciation is attributed to engaging oneself in musical activities practically in daily life. The use of music is a predictor of music appreciation regardless of the preference for being musically engaged (listening, playing instrument and composing song). Maslow's theory of human needs has shed its light on music as one of the most powerful arenas of peak experiences, which one feels at the height of his or her powers (a sense of self-actualization). Self-actualization as one of the construct of human development is a desirable life-long outcome for all individuals including the gifted students. Gifted students exclusively need personal thriving in terms of their talent to acquire honorable character and well-being. This article focuses on research relating to four aspects. The primary purpose of this article is to discuss on Maslow's needs theory of self- actualization. As music triggers emotional and psychological impact on individuals, the article identifies the most helpful means of music appreciation to promote human development particularly during adolescence. Review of literature on self- actualization characteristics and personalities held by gifted students will be discussed subsequently. Additional purposes are related to Maslow's theory and music appreciation practice through the experience of music listening on the well-being of human being.

Critical aesthetic pedagogy: toward a theory of self and social empowerment

Critical aesthetic pedagogy: toward a theory of self and social empowerment