The cultural psychology of self : place, morality and art in human worlds / Ciarán Benson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Benson, Ciarán.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Self psychology.

Culture--Psychological aspects.

Culture.

Physical Description:

xiii, 263 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Routledge, 2001.

Summary:

Philosophers and psychologists both investigate the self, but often in isolation from one another. This work brings together these two areas in a fascinating exploration of the self and its function. Benson argues that the skills in navigating human worlds are primary requirements for being a successful human being, and that the main function of our psychological system is to position ourselves in relation to others. He suggests that we can better understand ourselves in as locative systems and investigates the way we orient ourselves and the language we use to describe our position.

Contents:

Part 1 The centrality of place for selfhood 1

1 Selves and the need to navigate human worlds: a cultural psychological approach 16

2 The brain's work in locating selves 31

3 Placing oneself in personal time: the narrative structure of self 45

4 Moral identity and cultural-historical locations for self 59

5 Self-creation as self-location 73

6 Pronouns placing selves: 'I' and its associates 88

7 Feeling your way: emotions as self's pathfinders 103

Part 2 Location, dislocation and relocation: responsibility, caring, art and changing prospects 119

8 Childhood, responsibility and acquiring powers to place oneself as a moral agent 130

9 Pitilessness and compassion: caring where others are 146

10 Suffering, radical dislocation and the limits of moral responsibility 161

11 Being moved: art, self and positive absorption 176

12 Points of view and none: visual art and the location of self 192

13 Individual and national identity: analogy, symbiosis and artistic process 206

14 Psychologies of maturity: development or destination? 222

Navigating human worlds 239.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 244-254) and index.

ISBN:

0415089042

0415089050

OCLC:

44632929