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 Identity Theory: The Pragmatic View

Self Consciousness - William James

The prominent American pragmatist, William James, developed his definition of self consciousness in his Principles of Psychology, published in 1890. It is available as a digital text through the Classics in the History of Psychology. James discussed the components of Self as "I " and "Me." He further explores the three dimensions of the Me as the material, social and spiritual constituents in relation to the pure ego. He also articulated a theory of self esteem as the ratio of an individual's actual behavior relative to pretensions.

Mind, Self and Society - George Herbert Mead

This is a digital copy of Mead's work that was first published in 1934. The edition of Mind, Self and Society, was edited by Charles W. Morris.

The Social Self - George Herbert Mead

This essay, first published in the Journal of Philosophy, Psychology, and Scientific Methods in 1913, explains Mead's discussion of self as an "I" in relation to the "Me." This formulation serves as one of the foundations of Mead's theory of symbolic interactionism. It is available as a digital text through the Classics in the History of Psychology.

The Mechanisms of Social Consciousness - George Herbert Mead

This essay, first published in the Journal of Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Methods in 1912 examines Mead's views of inner consciousness and the interaction of "I" and "Me."

A Behavioristic Account of the Significant Symbol - George Herbert Mead

This essay, first published in the Journal of Philosophy in 1922, develops Mead's idea that "The self arises in conduct, when the individual becomes a social object in experience to himself." Mead reflects upon how individuals are able to develop Mind in relation to significant symbols. He explains the emergence of self as a process of "generalizing himself in the attitude of the other." This is the basis of Mead's theory of symbolic interactionism and the concept of the Generalized Other.

Meta-Self

Explore metaphors used to describe the self.

 

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Copyright, 2000-05 by Terrence A. Doyle, Ph. D.
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