Most of us seem to possess an underlying essence that makes us who we are – a constant that remains with us throughout our lives. While people have pondered these concepts for millennia, neuroscientists and psychologists are just starting to unravel many of the neurological and environmental mechanisms that combine to create this perception of integrated selfhood.
Embodied Self
Most people feel that at a certain point, their body ends and the rest of the world begins
The Narrative Self
The narrative self is associated with the autobiographical nature of our memories
- Dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions can have significant effects on our narrative notions of selfhood
- People commonly forget careers, family members, and meaningful life events, and experience drastic personality changes
The Social Self
Roles we play in different social contexts and how we perceive others perceiving us
- We crave connection and validation among our peers
- Recent studies have suggested that we use structures within the default mode network (which activates during rest and mind-wandering) to process inner narratives and social interactions
Perspectival Self
The perspectival self allows us to experience the world from a first-person point of view, but there are also certain contexts where this perspective can be disrupted.
- Depersonalization disorder – a condition in which people feel they are watching themselves go about their lives. Individuals with this disorder often say they feel disconnected and are moving through life on autopilot.
The Volitional Self
The volitional self is related to feelings of agency and free will
- Human beings, like other organisms, have to interact with their environment in a way that ensures their ongoing survival
- While human beings cannot consciously control the internal states of their body, they can control which actions they take to ensure their survival
