Identifying Oneself

Abstract

Everyone has a mental picture of himself that operates when he relates to other individuals. This view of self is not inherited but develops in the social milieu in which biological constitution and capacities are expressed and rewarded or punished by adults in the situation. When an individual learns to count on others for help when it is needed and to accept delays in the satisfaction of wishes and desires, a view of self that includes getting and giving operates in relations with others. A third psychological task that all children face is that of becoming more aware of their identity, getting clearer on responses to the question: Who am I? The purpose of this chapter is to provide background information on how children grapple with this task and to show views of self that emerge. Every patient has a concept of self that operates to improve or to distort interpersonal relations with professional persons. Every nurse has a view of self that is expressed in her relations with patients in ways that facilitate or hinder the growth of both parties in the situation. In this chapter operations of the self-concept will be shown in relation to problems that arise when the third psychological task is not completed or when it is reactivated in situations in which an individual is ill.