Question

As an actor, the self actively engages in the process of knowing itself. This status of self is called ________

• A. self as subject
• B. self as object
• C. ideal self
• D. real self

Hint:

A simple way to remember this is: The "I" does the looking. The "Me" is what is seen in the mirror. The question describes the self that is doing the looking.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Conceptual Breakdown:
Psychologist William James differentiated the self into two components:

The "I" (Self as Subject): The agent, the perceiver, the doer. This is the self that experiences, thinks, and feels in real-time, actively participating.
The "Me" (Self as Object): The entity that is known, observed, and described. This encompasses one's self-perceptions, beliefs, and characteristics (e.g., "I am tall," "I am a student").
Step 2: Elaboration:
The description of the self as an "actor" "actively engaging in the process of knowing" aligns with the "I" – the self as the agent or subject. The self as object represents the knowledge acquired through this process (the known entity). Concepts of the "ideal self" (desired state) and "real self" (actual state) were introduced by Carl Rogers.
Step 3: Conclusion:
The self's role as an active agent in the process of knowing is termed the self as subject.