Reflection

Lecture5.1HAS121_Selfandidentity.html

Human Developmentin Social Context

HAS121

Lecture 5.1: Self and identity

In this lecture we will:

Learn about the following key concepts

Personality–enduring personalcharacteristics
Identity–a sense of who you are,where you are going and whereyou fit in society
Self–the characteristics of aperson–self-understanding, selfesteem and self concept

Key concepts

Personality, identity, self

Personality

Attributes, motives, values and behaviours

Temperament

Early, genetically basedtendencies to respond inpredictable ways that emergein infancy

Identity

Who you are, where you are going and where youfitinto society

Narrative identity

The stories we construct about ourselves

Self concept

Who am I?

Your awareness and thoughtsabout yourself
Early childhood–tends to beexternal e.g. I am 5 years old and Iam a boy
Middle childhood and adolescence–tends to be internal and externalcharacteristics e.g. I want to be anengineer, I am good at maths, I ridehorses

Real and possible selves

Part of our self concept

Self esteem

Am I any good?

Personality is an organisedcombination of attributes, motives,values and behaviours unique tothe individual.

Theories of self, identity and personality

Trait theory, social cognitive theory, psychoanalytic theory

Trait theory

Personality is broad dispositions or traits that tend to produce characteristicresponses.

Social cognitive theory

People change if their social contexts change

Interested in social environmentalinfluenceson the development ofpersonality and the importance ofearly childhood experiences forformation of self and identity

Psychoanalytic theory

Tell me about your mother…..

Erik Erikson (1902-1994)

To be continued