The self

Articles, Films and practical Guides on the self, part of Psyche’s coverage of self-knowledge and personal growth.
Two people sitting on a log by a lake, facing distant mountains under a cloudy sky.
THE SELF
22

How to uncover your blind spots

We all have parts of ourselves others know but we don’t. Gain greater self-awareness by seeing yourself from the outside in

by Jennifer Farrell

Painting of a late-19th century pub scene with two men and a woman, drinks on the table, the woman looking into a mirror.
ETHICS

Is it morally wrong to not take care of yourself?

The philosophical debate goes on. But our research on self-obligations suggests there’s a common, consequential view

by Laura K Soter & Fan Yang

Photo of a person in a white shirt holding an orange behind their back at a crosswalk, seen from behind.
THINKERS AND THEORIES
5

How to think like a Hegelian

For Hegel, your thoughts aren’t trapped in a cerebral box: they act on the world, making meaning and expressing your freedom

by Jeffrey Reid

A child in an orange astronaut suit waving in a car park with cars and trees in the background.
IDENTITY
14

Who do you think you are? There are two answers

Being seen for who you are, both existentially and metaphysically, is a gift that society should strive to bestow on all

by Joanna Lawson

Silhouetted photo of two people talking by a window with sunlight streaming in; buildings and cars visible outside.
THE SELF
6

Intimacy is risky, but it’s the only way to true acceptance

Beyond the initial shame, there are rich rewards in sharing important, hidden parts of ourselves with others

by Jasmine Gunkel

A collapsed apartment building leaning between other damaged buildings in twilight
THE SELF

Do you weave historical events into your own life story?

Some people watch history pass by. Others high in ‘historical consciousness’ truly live it – and seem to benefit as a result

by Şebnem Ture

Two clay faces with minimal features lying on a dark surface in a close-up photograph.
THE SELF

A woman must break apart to make herself whole in this surreal, stunning animation

Directed by Chu-Chieh Lee

Painting of a woman in a dark kimono with a bow in her hair, looking at her reflection in a dimly lit mirror.
SHAME AND GUILT
6

Self-hatred feeds on inner shame. Here’s how to break the cycle

Shame swamps any redeeming traits you might have thought you had. Slow down to interrupt the loops that cause self-hatred

by Troy Seagraves

Illustration of a room with a plant on a table, soft coloured walls and a window with curtains.
POETRY

‘You are me; I am you’ – a trans poet’s evocative message to her former self

Video by On Being

A child looking out a window, hand pressed against the glass, supported by an adult holding their back, in a warmly lit room with partially-closed curtains.
OCD
5

Fears about being a dangerous or immoral person can fuel OCD

Intrusive thoughts about doing bad things are common, but for people with OCD they provoke deep fears about the self

by Richard Moulding & Kelvin (Shiu Fung) Wong

A woman and a man converse while seated on chairs in a room with plants. A decorative table with glasses is between them.
EMERGING THERAPIES

The critic inside your head has something important to tell you. Here’s how to listen

Video by Esther Perel

Reflection of a group of people on water surface under blue sky photo distorted by ripples.
MEMORY AND NOSTALGIA

Why our flawed, flexible memories come with social benefits

Though relationships are grounded in shared memories, some gaps and inaccuracies can help us live well in a social world

by Gillian Murphy & Ciara Greene

A person sitting in sunlight on grass by a building, wearing a yellow top and jeans, with soft lens flare.
MEMORY AND NOSTALGIA

How do transgender people remember their earlier selves?

Research with transgender people sheds light on the memory processes that allow any of us to navigate periods of change

by Caleb Schlaupitz

Animated character in green robes stands in a lush landscape with mountains and traditional buildings in the background.
MEMORY AND NOSTALGIA
7

When memories from fiction become part of who you are

Scenes from books, movies and games sometimes carry as much weight as events from people’s own lives. We’re finding out why

by Osman Görkem Çetin

Painting of a man in colourful clothes sitting against a stone wall looking pensive with armour-clad figures in the shadows.
COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE

The loving tongue

In Spanish, I wasn’t the clumsy son of the town amputee. Learning the language catalysed my reinvention

by Timothy Hampton

Medieval painting of a woman at a desk writing with a quill by a window with a sea view and a sailing ship.
CHANGE AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT
12

How to find inner peace like Saint Teresa of Ávila

The 16th-century ‘spiritual rock-star’ shows how seeing your soul as a castle can be a source of strength and consolation

by Skye C Cleary