Brain Disorders & Therapy

Abstrait

Selfconcept – Psychiatry Portrait

Rogério Miranda, Beatriz de Aranha

Background and Objectives: Human beings have always expressed vast interest in the interpretation of the Self. The concept of "Self" has been a primary focus for philosophers (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and Kant), religious (St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas), thinkers, politicians and, more recently in the history of thought, for psychologists (John Locke, David Hume and Stuart Mill). Self concept has been referred in Literature with synonyms like self knowledge and self consciousness. The individuals' self-concept influences the way they perceive themselves and the world around them. It affects the individuals' actions, both positively and negatively, and therefore, its awareness is fundamental to the clinical practice of Psychiatry. This study intends to explore the aspects, dimensions and disturbances of Self-concept, correlating to the individual’s mental health. Methods: This work combines a Literature Review, using both PubMed Bibliographic Research and other selected books/ papers. Results: From the first incursions of 19th century Psychology on the concept of Person and on the individuals' perception of themselves, to 21st century studies on the self-concept, scholars cover the perception people have on their material, social and spiritual structures. Self-concept scales could be used as a clinical tool. Conclusions: There is a general consensus among the authors. Self-concept is a system that influences the way people face society and their own selves, thus affecting their actions. Further research on self-concept would be beneficial for Psychiatry, knowing its influence on the individuals’ personality, their actions and mental health deviations.