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The Theory Of Self And Identity Essay

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The idea of self and identity is highly intricate, and the self can either be one of three options: the self is private, constructive, or a mixture of both. In the private viewpoint, the self is static, founded on a set number of traits, values, and dispositions that will not change with time. The constructivist theory argues that the self is changeable by nature and changes based on varying circumstances.Then, there is the mixture idea, that these separate opposing ideas are connected, as the way the self is developed and reflected upon is based on how the brain and individual thoughts develop. This is highlighted in Gopnik’s statement that, “Ourselves shape our brains at least as much as our brains our selves” (Gopnik 2). When reflecting on Gopnik’s article more it seems only logical to think that some parts of the self is constructed, whereas other parts are private, and this completely depends on the environment of the child. Parenting styles is one of those environmental aspects, and it largely impacts how a child’s socioemotional, and language skills develop, which in turn has a ripple effect on how the child ultimately views their own personality and self. The most telling test to measure socioemotional development of a child is through attachment, and the most successful way to measure this is through the strange experiment. Children are classed as insecure-resistant, insecure-disorganized, insecure-avoidant, or secure based on how they behave during the

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