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What is the theory of self-concept? Should we de-emphasize the self? Or can celebrating it make us happy?
Self-concept theory is the how an individual thinks about themselves. In the east, they de-emphasize the self to reach enlightenment. In the west, many celebrate the ethic of autonomy. Ultimately, we should be practicing a bit of both.
Keep reading to learn more about the self-concept theory.
Self-Concept Theory
Alone among animals, humans have a highly cultivated idea of the self. We call this the self-concept theory. We create narratives and self-conceptions and then judge our actions by the standard of that narrative. It gives us rich interior lives, but it can also lead to egotism and self-consciousness. We are our own worst critics and our own worst enemies because of the endless self-commentary and self-criticism.
Eastern traditions generally de-emphasize the self, seeing it and its needs as obstacles to true enlightenment. Thus, they urge meditation and self-denial. This de-emphasis of the self also exists in western thought. Many moral debates in the west boil down to how important the self should be.
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- How your emotions determine how satisfied you are in life
- Why you need to struggle in order to succeed
- How to create your own happiness
