User:MandaG/Tutorial and lecture 2

Who am I?

The typical way of describing oneself is with the generic "I am" statements. However today's lecture explored the different outside factors such as culture, social groups and the environment. I liked the explanation of the fuzzy lines (and when I can work out this new fangled technology I will try and upload the circle representation)about how each factor can change in the way they impact on the individual. The reason for this is because really this principle can be applied to everyday life. For example travelling overseas to Sri Lanka (or I guess any country), I had to inhibit some of my natural instincts on how to act socially as due to the environment it would be unacceptable, the culture and environment I was restricted in how I was able to socially respond.

The idea that the self does not just pertain to the physical being is a basic yet true concept, as I'm sure we have all experienced this in some way i won't waste more time on it other than to ask if you guys think it is the same across cultures and classes?

The next thing in the lecture that grabbed my attention was this "Bask and Blast" concept. I know it seems stereotypical, but as a teenage girl there are infinite examples of people who are even considered friends to identify themselves as better if they are linked to percieved winners ie.The popular group and blast rivals or even friends they feel the need to compete with. And of course as the dynamics of highschool changed many people fell to the curse of social comparison leading to fluctuating esteem. As James pointed out a high self esteem is good to a point giving a person confidence, but past that is just annoying arrogance. Is that point different for each person, and if so what factors influence it? I am more tolerant of arrogant people with the talent to back it up than those who are just plain arrogant.

Finally I focused on the purpose of the idea of self. I mean why do people spend all ths time studying why we are who we are and trying to define what makes the self when it is different in some ways for each person. By the end of the lecture it finally dawned on me (particularly when James outright said it) that understanding that the purpose of studying the self and the subsequent knowledge not only allows us to self regulate and manage our own behaviour, but I think most importantly from the psychological side of things allows us to understand where other people are coming from and what may affect their emotions and motivations.