Exploring Unique Perspectives on the Nature of the Self- A Comparative Analysis There are several views offered in PART IV B. Which ideas do you think provide the most interesting approach to the nature of the self? Explain why you think this.

Part IV B provides various views on the self and how it can be defined and interpreted. The main ideas that offer the most interesting approach to the nature of the self in this part are the ideas presented by Joel Kupperman on Hinduism and the self, based on the Upanishads. The ideas are interesting because they suggest that a person’s self is not dictated by their personality. Kupperman explains that according to the Upanishads’ metaphysics, the self is influenced by a persistent “me” that does not change. He adds that the persistent “me” cannot include elements such as thought patterns and personality because it does not change (Cahn, 2019). According to Jusu (2018), personality demonstrates a person’s character in what they do every day. Therefore, personality can be considered when creating a perception about someone. However, personality is mainly considered when interpreting self-concept. Karakayali (2021) defines self-concept as a person’s evaluations, feelings, and thoughts about themselves. According to Ahmad & Tekke (2015), personality creates a foundation for self-concept because a person’s real self-course is linked to their personality, as suggested by Carl Rogers. The real self includes self-regard, positive regard, and actualizing tendencies. A person can also have an ideal self that includes self-worth, ambitiousness, and striving (Ahmad & Tekke, 2015)). Carl Rogers adds that personality represents the self by influencing people’s tendency to behave in ways that actualize them and differentiate them from other people. The tendencies are also influenced by the conditions of self-worth and worth. The condition of worth influences a person’s assessment of their positive regard (Ahmad & Tekke, 2015). Therefore, Carl Rogers and Joel Kupperman have contrasting ideas on the relationship between personality and the self which makes Joel Kupperman’s approach to the nature of the self more interesting and relevant in getting a different view of the concept of the self.

 References

Ahmad, N., & Tekke, M. (2015). Rediscovering Rogers’s Self Theory and Personality. Journal of Educational, Health and Community Psychology, 4(3). https://doi.org/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286456614_Rediscovering_Rogers%27s_Self_Theory_and_Personality