Self-awareness and constructive functioning: Revisiting "the human dilemma."
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Paul Silvia, Professor (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Abstract: Self-awareness-the capacity to focus attention on oneself, and thus to self-evaluate-has a bad reputation in social-clinical psychology because of its ties to negative affect, depression, suicide, and dysfunction. Using Rollo May's (1967) analysis of "the human dilemma," we outline self-awareness's beneficial contributions to psychological functioning. Without self-awareness, people could not take the perspectives of others, exercise self-control, produce creative accomplishments, or experience pride and high self-esteem. Research suggests that the positive and negative facets of self-awareness are reconciled when people have reasonable self-standards and when they are optimistic about meeting their standards.
Self-awareness and constructive functioning: Revisiting "the human dilemma."
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Created on 1/1/2004
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 23, 475-489
- Language: English
- Date: 2004
- Keywords
- Self-awareness, Constructive functioning