The Self-Knower

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiv

   PDF

2. Self-Knowledge

   • Robert A. Wicklund, Martina Eckert

   Pages 1-8

3. Getting Clear About the Difference Between the Self and Self-Knowledge

   • Robert A. Wicklund, Martina Eckert

   Pages 9-15

4. The Self-Knower School

   • Robert A. Wicklund, Martina Eckert

   Pages 17-39

5. Self-Reports

   • Robert A. Wicklund, Martina Eckert

   Pages 41-56

6. The Therapist and the Researcher

   • Robert A. Wicklund, Martina Eckert

   Pages 57-77

7. Self-Knowledge

   • Robert A. Wicklund, Martina Eckert

   Pages 79-93

8. Self-Knowledge

   • Robert A. Wicklund, Martina Eckert

   Pages 95-106

9. Self-Knowledge as Self-Cognizing

   • Robert A. Wicklund, Martina Eckert

   Pages 107-132

10. Self-Knowledge Viewed in a Symbiotic Relationship

    • Robert A. Wicklund, Martina Eckert

    Pages 133-150

11. Back Matter

    Pages 151-166

    PDF

The self-knower has become a hero within many contemporary cultures. This hero goes by various different titles, including the" self-insightful/' the "self-actualized/' the "autonomous and mature/' the "representative of independent thinking/' the "morally virtuous/' and many more. The common denominators of civilization's preoccupation with the self­ knower are (1) the mundane, popular literature that draws our attention to our "inner being" and (2) the remarkable intensity of therapies and quasitherapies that promise insight into the true core of our inner being. A characteristic example from an extensive, week-or month-long training course would read, "Come because you want to discover your self ... . Through Mr. X [the group leaderl, we can realize our true identities ... . This gives our lives sense and perspective." We have tried to trace the logic underlying the diverse self-knower movements and have found three common themes underlying them. For one, the varieties of theories and treatments associated with self-knowl­ edge are interested exclusively in the appearance of the self-knower. Each representative of the self-knower school has its own set of criteria for identifying the self-knowing person, and in tum, each member of the self-knower school represents certain convictions about how individuals should be evaluated. For instance, if someone manifests warmth and char­ ity, that person is likely to be pronounced healthy, adjusted, and self­ knowing.

• Self
• behavior
• logic
• perception
• prejudice
• research
• school

• Universität Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany

  Robert A. Wicklund, Martina Eckert

Policies and ethics