| Abstract: | Attempts to integrate phenomenological theories of the self-concept into a broader framework compatible with an objective approach. The phenomenological theories that identify the self-concept as the nucleus of the personality with directive and integrative properties become intelligible when the self-concept is redefined as a "self-theory" that the individual has unwittingly constructed about himself as an experiencing, functioning individual. The self-theory supplements a "world theory," which encompasses the remaining significant aspects of experience. An individual's self-theory consists of a hierarchical arrangement of major and minor postulates. The postulates can be operationally identified by the cognitions implicit in the individual's emotional responses to events. The individual develops his self-theory to assist in the maintenance of a favorable pleasure-pain balance, assimilate the data of experience, and maintain self-esteem. A failure in any of these functions produces mounting stress, and ultimately collapse of the self-theory, which can be adaptive in providing an opportunity for drastic reorganization. (22 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
