self

n. The whole of the individual, including all physical and mental processes and activities with his/her history of development as well as personal identity and experience. Different writers have stressed different aspects of self or used the word to mean more specific things. Thus Jung suggested there was an inherited structure or archetype called self, whose development was the goal of human life. Carl Rogers suggested there was an experiential self, which often conflicted with one's understanding of one's self, the latter of which is determined by experience, learning, and social pressure. Adler suggested the self was a self-serving concept used as a tool in one's chosen lifestyle. William James suggested self was used both as a source of agency and a target of appraisal. Karen Horney suggested that self is unique capacities for growth and development. Gordon Allport substituted the word proprium for self and suggested it was what is most personal and important in us. Edward Murray used the term mostly to mean our consciousness of our self.