Self

Stets & Burke, (2000) assert ‘identity theory includes all the things (including self and other)

that take on meaning in relation to our plans and activities’. Lipovac (1997 pg. 2) asserts ‘for

the later part of the century the search for identity of place and with place has become more

intensive’. The correlation shows identity of self stems from external factors, the implication

being, the place an individual is and what the individual does defines self. This is

predominantly the ideology known as existentialism.

Although Hayes (2015) suggests ‘cultural settings can condition the elements of self ‘, the

difference being culture is perceived as being intrinsic to the individual or self as opposed to

things the individual does that becomes a concept of self. However, this blog posits that even

culture is an aspect of existentialism, (Yankelovich, 1981).

Crumbaugh, & Maholick, (1964) examine Fraiikl's method of psychotherapeusis,

logotherapy, an application of the principles of existential philosophy to clinical practice’,

Fraiikl posits that rises in neurosis are largely a response to a complete emptiness of purpose

in life, this emptiness disorientates the intrinsic perception of self.

It would be erroneous to so compartmentalize self as to leave out identity and community when trying to define self in paradigms such as postmodernism, naturalism and atheism as these ideologies are extensions of existentialism. Hoodoo Gurus song what’s My Scene displays members of the band

dressed in various outfits while asking the question what’s my scene? These various costumes portray relationship to culture, culture that is defined by community, community that promotes an identity, an identity that determines self. In the song, the lyrics reflect the aforementioned academic principles inviting questions on how does one define self? Ending with “Well, I concede. I've been caught in someone else's scene (but that's not me).” Given the rise in neurosis and the ever increasing sense of meaninglessness the importance of defining self has risen in the last few decades.

To conclude, in 1981 social analyst Daniel Yankelovich wrote an article in Psychology

Today that addressed the change of culture in America, his conclusion, “If you feel it is

imperative to fill all your needs, and if these needs are contradictory or in conflict with those

of others, or simply unfillable, then frustration inevitably follows.

To Abby and to Mark as well self-fulfilment means having a career and marriage and children and sexual freedom and autonomy and being liberal and having money and choosing non-conformity and insisting social justice and enjoying city life and country living and simplicity and graciousness and

reading and good friends and on and on. The individual is not truly fulfilled by becoming ever more autonomous. Indeed, to move too far in this direction is to risk psychosis, the ultimate form of autonomy. The injunction that to find one’s self, one must lose one’s self, contains the truth any seeker of self-fulfilment needs to grasp.”

Reference List.

Crumbaugh, J. C., & Maholick, L. T. (1964). An experimental study in existentialism: The

psychometric approach to Frankl's concept of noogenic neurosis. Journal of clinical

psychology, 20(2), 200-207.

Hayes, A. (2015) BA1002: our space: networks, narratives & making of place, week 6 notes

[PowerPoint slides]. https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-2001256-dt-content-

rid-2778881_1/courses/15-BA1002-CNS-EXT_INT-

SP2/BA1002%20Week%206%20Self%2C%20Identity%20and%20COmmunityLecto

rial%20shortened%20version.pdf

Lipovac, N. (1997). Prostor i mjesto. Prostor: znanstveni časopis za arhitekturu i urbanizam,

5(1 (13)), 1-34.

Stets, J. E., & Burke, P. J. (2000). Identity theory and social identity theory. Social

Psychology Quarterly, 63(3), 224-237.

Yankelovich, Daniel. 1981. "New Rules in American Life: Searching for Self-fulfilment in a

World Turned Upside Down." Psychology Today 15 (4): 35-91.

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/uzFKYHvkhVQ/hqdefault.jpg

http://cdn.scahw.com.au/cdn-

1cdbd6872b8bb10/ImageVaultFiles/id_90655/cf_7/Hoodoo_Gurus.JPG