30.11.20 Self- present, past and future
Copied from 7.8.20 Multiple selves - interesting thoughts about the dynamic self and time
'Henriques suggests that the self is dynamic:
‘Although we often think about the self as a “thing,” it is also the case that one can think of the self as a pattern of behavior through time. In this view, the “I” is synonymous with what I feel, think, and do feel across time….the idea that there are multiple self-states becomes clear in the sense that we do very different things across time. This basic insight frees us to think about the self in a much more dynamic way, as opposed to attempting to characterize it as a specific, fixed, and unchanging object.’ (ibid)
He then goes on to talk about ‘a multiplicity of self-states’…’we should consider ourselves as really a collection of “subselves” that have different perceptual-motivational-emotional structures designed to solve the following adaptive problems: 1) self-protection/injury avoidance; 2) disease avoidance; 3) affiliation; 4) status seeking; 5) mate acquisition; 6) mate retention; and 7) kin care. Importantly, because these different subselves have different goals, they may often be in conflict and different situations will activate them in different ways.’ (Ibid)
The idea of my multiple selves being in conflict fits well with the videos and images of me wrestling inside my Body cocoons.
He also talks about ‘The present versus future self. One of the most common conflicts between self-states that people experience is the conflict between their present and their future self (here is a TedTalk on this). Our current self wants the piece of cake, but our future self wants to be fit and trim. Our current self wants to be relaxed by a cool drag on a cigarette, but our future self does not want lung cancer. Our current self wants to take the day off and go on a vacation, but our future self does not want to face an annoyed boss or depleted bank account….the mind (of which the self as we are thinking about it is a part) is an action selection system that consists of many different subsystems that operate on different time scales.’
He goes on to describe 3 of these different subsystems: ‘The most basic is the reflex system, which operates almost instantaneously. Another quick acting/reacting system is the emotional-Pavlovian response system. There is also, however, a deliberative system that extends the animal/human in time, simulating future situations and future costs and benefits. Because these systems compute action selection differently, then it is not at all uncommon to experience very different and conflicting self-states as a consequence. And, as any addict can attest, these systems can produce very different and highly conflicted self-states.’
And interesting that these 3 systems can produce highly conflicted self-states!
APA Dictionary of Psychology (no date) Multiple selves Available at: https://dictionary.apa.org/multiple-selves (Accessed 7 August 2020)
Henriques, G (2014) One Self or Many Selves? Understanding why we have a multiplicity of self-states Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/theory-knowledge/201404/one-self-or-many-selves (Accessed 7 August 2020)
Copied from 7.8.20 Multiple selves - interesting thoughts about the dynamic self and time
'Henriques suggests that the self is dynamic:
‘Although we often think about the self as a “thing,” it is also the case that one can think of the self as a pattern of behavior through time. In this view, the “I” is synonymous with what I feel, think, and do feel across time….the idea that there are multiple self-states becomes clear in the sense that we do very different things across time. This basic insight frees us to think about the self in a much more dynamic way, as opposed to attempting to characterize it as a specific, fixed, and unchanging object.’ (ibid)
He then goes on to talk about ‘a multiplicity of self-states’…’we should consider ourselves as really a collection of “subselves” that have different perceptual-motivational-emotional structures designed to solve the following adaptive problems: 1) self-protection/injury avoidance; 2) disease avoidance; 3) affiliation; 4) status seeking; 5) mate acquisition; 6) mate retention; and 7) kin care. Importantly, because these different subselves have different goals, they may often be in conflict and different situations will activate them in different ways.’ (Ibid)
The idea of my multiple selves being in conflict fits well with the videos and images of me wrestling inside my Body cocoons.
He also talks about ‘The present versus future self. One of the most common conflicts between self-states that people experience is the conflict between their present and their future self (here is a TedTalk on this). Our current self wants the piece of cake, but our future self wants to be fit and trim. Our current self wants to be relaxed by a cool drag on a cigarette, but our future self does not want lung cancer. Our current self wants to take the day off and go on a vacation, but our future self does not want to face an annoyed boss or depleted bank account….the mind (of which the self as we are thinking about it is a part) is an action selection system that consists of many different subsystems that operate on different time scales.’
He goes on to describe 3 of these different subsystems: ‘The most basic is the reflex system, which operates almost instantaneously. Another quick acting/reacting system is the emotional-Pavlovian response system. There is also, however, a deliberative system that extends the animal/human in time, simulating future situations and future costs and benefits. Because these systems compute action selection differently, then it is not at all uncommon to experience very different and conflicting self-states as a consequence. And, as any addict can attest, these systems can produce very different and highly conflicted self-states.’
And interesting that these 3 systems can produce highly conflicted self-states!
APA Dictionary of Psychology (no date) Multiple selves Available at: https://dictionary.apa.org/multiple-selves (Accessed 7 August 2020)
Henriques, G (2014) One Self or Many Selves? Understanding why we have a multiplicity of self-states Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/theory-knowledge/201404/one-self-or-many-selves (Accessed 7 August 2020)