Being Someone: The Integrated Self as a Neuropsychological System

Abstract

Fully functioning persons are characterized by a unity in thought, emotion, and action that amounts to “being someone” or having “an integrated self.” Psychologists have typically treated the integrated self as merely a descriptive term that summarizes significant behavioral achievements. In the present article, the authors seek to place the integrated self on firmer theoretical grounds by relating the integrated self to a neurobiological system with distinct processing characteristics. Building on personality systems interactions theory (Kuhl, ), the authors suggest that the integrated self is supported by parallel‐distributed processing in the right anterior cortex and can be distinguished from simpler self‐related states of mind. From this neuropsychological model, the authors derive seven functions of the integrated self: emotional connectedness, broad vigilance, utilization of felt feedback, unconscious processing, integration of negative experiences, extended resilience, and extended trust. The authors discuss the seven functions and their mutual relations along with relevant behavioral and neurobiological evidence. Finally, the authors highlight the importance of positive relationships for optimal development of the integrated self and discuss how the integrated self might be further cultivated to improve self‐regulation and health.

Putting Ourselves in Another’s Skin: Using the Plasticity of Self-Perception to Enhance Empathy and Decrease Prejudice

“…The conceptual self is generally thought to be made up of one's attitudes and beliefs about one's values, preferences, past experiences and social roles (Kuhl, Quirin, & Koole, 2015). In contrast to the bodily self, the conceptual self is thought to emerge gradually during development via the association and organisation of intra-and interpersonal information closely related to one's behaviour and goals into a coherent network of self-relevant associations (Markus & Wurf, 1987;Perugini & Leone, 2009).…”

Losing Gut Feelings? Intuition in Depression

“…Results revealed that subjects in the rational-reasoning condition were less satisfied with their choice when asked about 3 weeks after the experimental session compared to subjects who chose a poster intuitively. Reduced levels of satisfaction in the analytical group may have occurred because analytic processing typically abstracts from the emotional and personal meaning of a decision at hand (Kuhl et al, 2015). In other words, analytic processes reduce the complexity of a problem by breaking ambiguous information down to one aspect that is important in a particular situation (Dijksterhuis, 2004; Kuhl et al, 2015).…”

“…Reduced levels of satisfaction in the analytical group may have occurred because analytic processing typically abstracts from the emotional and personal meaning of a decision at hand (Kuhl et al, 2015). In other words, analytic processes reduce the complexity of a problem by breaking ambiguous information down to one aspect that is important in a particular situation (Dijksterhuis, 2004; Kuhl et al, 2015). This is of advantage for logical problem solving but of disadvantage when the problem includes divergent aspects that need to be considered (e.g., solving a complex personal problem; interpersonal relationships; dealing with an illness; see Kuhl et al, 2015).…”

“…In other words, analytic processes reduce the complexity of a problem by breaking ambiguous information down to one aspect that is important in a particular situation (Dijksterhuis, 2004; Kuhl et al, 2015). This is of advantage for logical problem solving but of disadvantage when the problem includes divergent aspects that need to be considered (e.g., solving a complex personal problem; interpersonal relationships; dealing with an illness; see Kuhl et al, 2015). For the latter problem type, intuitive decision-making seems to be advantageous.…”

Self-care study in the Iranian medical students based on Islamic thought

“…[3,4] However, before and more than that it emphasizes internal controlling and purposeful auditing of individual's own actions and behaviors that is known as a "spiritual accounting", [5] or in the explanation of some writers, it has been called "self-controlling", [6] or "effective controlling system". [7,8] In Islamic principle, it is emphasized that man must be careful what he does, this means that if he decides to do a good work, he implements this decision soon and if he decides to do a bad work, he gives up this decision soon. [9,10] Quran by explaining, "whether you reveal what is in your hearts or hide it Allah will bring you to account for it", emphasizes on "know that Allah knows what is in your minds, therefore beware of him".…”