ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at key social psychology accounts of the self – examining perspectives which primarily revolve around ideas of 'self as an individual being' and 'self as part of social structures or groups'. It explores how our self-esteem influences, and is influenced by, our sense of self. A classic way of understanding the self as an individual-level concept is via psychodynamic theory. Psychodynamics is generally in decline as a popular model of understanding the self, as is psychoanalysis as a treatment technique. Individual approaches to understanding the self can include looking at traits which define people – and can guide our interactions with others. The social identity perspective is arguably one of the most influential approaches in modern social psychology and has driven both thinking and applied practice. Evolutionary accounts of psychology argue that natural selection favours a tendency towards kin altruism which enables and encourages group co-operation.
