Self-knowledge and personal self-development: what is the difference (according to Maslow)

Basics of self-knowledge and self-development

Self-knowledge always has its own direction, the purpose of knowledge. What does a person study throughout his life? W. James identified 3 main areas:

Physical personality - includes the bodily shell and everything connected with it (appearance, body organs, health).
Social personality - arises as a result of understanding and recognition by other people of the personality of another person.
Spiritual personality is the essence of a person on a spiritual level, the characteristics of a particular individual.

There is also an interpretation of human nature as a biosocial creature. There are social and biological levels. V.V. Stoletin proposed the following classification:

Biological individual (has a special nervous system, body structure, body characteristics),
Social individual (emerges in the process of studying the surrounding world, skills and knowledge of humanity),
Personality (builds his own path in life, makes choices, knows how to coordinate a pattern of behavior).

Self-knowledge is carried out at all levels. Moreover, a person becomes simultaneously the one who studies and who is studied. “I” can change in time - “I am now”, “I was”, “I will be”. At the same time, there are certain relationships between the object and the subject, namely, self-knowledge at the beginning, self-control, self-regulation - as a result of the results obtained.

The basics of self-knowledge and self-development presuppose a clear relationship between concepts.

Introspection;
Self-analysis;
Comparison with others (ideally with yourself);
Setting goals for the future;
Self-development.

The theory of self-development is presented in more detail in the works of Rogers.

The result of self-knowledge. The process of self-discovery

In the process of self-knowledge, any person becomes a sadhu to a certain extent, because he learns through personal experience. Knowledge gleaned from various sources is applicable in practice; as a result of acquiring new experience through spiritual self-improvement, a person reaches a higher level of self-awareness. He not only better understands the laws of the world and interaction with people, but he himself increasingly feels like a part of this world, inextricably linked with all living beings and nature.

It is not without reason that one of the goals of the meditation method is merging with the Absolute, dissolving in it. A person understands that there is no loneliness in life, everything is interconnected. Each part of the universe depends on the whole, everything is in everything. The process of self-knowledge logically leads to this conclusion. You can understand this through logical reasoning, supplemented by spiritual insights gained through the experience of meditation.

Books for self-knowledge

To illustrate all of the above, a selection of books on the topic of self-development will be given here, which can be used both for independent practice of meditation and yoga, and while continuing to practice under the guidance of a teacher. For those who are just embarking on the path of self-improvement, we can recommend reading these books, and perhaps they will become a starting point for you on the main journey of your life - the road of self-discovery.

Patanjali "Yoga Sutras"
Sutras of Buddhism,
Sutra on the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma,
Swami Vivekananda "Raja Yoga"
Paramahansa Yogananda "Autobiography of a Yogi"
Swami Sivananda "The Power of Thought"
Swami Sivananda "The Science of Pranayama"
Sri Chinmoy "Meditation"
Mahasi Sayadaw "Satipatthana Vipassana Meditation".

The hardest thing is to know yourself, the easiest thing is to give advice to others
Thales

Personality orientation in the works of C. Rogers

Rogers is considered one of the best psychologists of the last century, he founded the psychology of humanism. His concept is based on the individual’s desire for actualization; he identifies the following concepts:

“Real Self” - includes a person’s awareness of thoughts, values, and attitudes in life.
“Ideal Self” is a set of ideas about how a person sees his future, what he strives for, and his life experience.
“Social environment” - includes values and norms, behavioral characteristics inherent in a person’s social environment.

If there are discrepancies in life between the real and ideal state of a person and his implementation in society, mental disorders, neuroses, anxiety, and poor adaptation in society arise. To be in harmony with your Self and achieve an ideal state, you need to gain freedom, learn to listen to your inner voice, and act based on your experience and understanding of life.

Usually, problems arise in a situation where a person lives according to the rules of society, trying not to stand out from the crowd, forgetting about the “Ideal Self”. Rogers, working as a psychotherapist, believed that his task was to reveal the potential of the individual, to help determine and gain freedom through self-knowledge.

His “theory” found its application in pedagogy.

Key rules in the work of a teacher

pedagogy should contribute to the formation of a healthy and adequate personality, promote personal growth;
the source of development and growth lies in the person himself, only through comprehension and personal experience, responsible choice is it possible to learn and self-improvement of the individual;
personal growth and development is impossible without understanding and accepting one’s essence. Respect for yourself and your inner world allows you to take risks and reveal new facets of your personality.

Rogers assumed that self-knowledge and self-development of students would be important components of the pedagogical process. The ideas of this psychiatrist will also be useful to parents in the process of raising a holistic and healthy personality.

Basic qualities of a teacher

Trusting relationship;
Stimulate students' internal motivation;
Share experience, provide assistance in difficult situations;
Be sensitive to the child’s emotions and feelings;
Be active in relationships, express your emotions and experiences;
Understand and know yourself.

Of course, teachers are not always able to find time for each student and promote the full disclosure and development of their personality, so this question applies more to parents, who must know and understand their child and help him develop. Each person in the process of his life asks questions of finding himself, his purpose, which is important for further development and self-improvement. “Know yourself and you will know the world,” the sages said.

Types of self-knowledge. Ways of self-knowledge

Types of self-knowledge

may be different. Here everything depends on the position from which the evaluator looks. The main types are presented as follows:

analytical - associated with the work of the mind, the mental plane;
creative - the sphere of feelings, the etheric and astral plane;
spiritual - sacred sphere, causal, buddhial and atmic plane.

Each of these 3 types consists of subtypes that manifest themselves through a specific function.

Analytical self-knowledge of personality

This type of self-knowledge occurs through both introspection and introspection. Self-observation can use written analysis in the form of diaries, taking tests, or automatic writing - it is quite rare, but it gives excellent results, providing an opportunity to look deeper into your psyche. You can even talk about your first encounters with the subconscious.

Another way is self-confession. Being honest with yourself is not as easy as it might seem. Internal, uncontrollable fears usually constrain a person, which makes self-confession almost impossible. In order to cross the barrier of fears, you need, as always in such situations, to simply start acting - start telling yourself about yourself.

Reflection differs from confession in that you do not report to yourself, but simply reflect on what is happening, trying to give less judgment. Although the role of evaluation is great in using this type of self-analysis, you should not exaggerate it, otherwise the role of a judge can lead you to excessive self-criticism, and this, in turn, will negatively affect your self-esteem.

Human creative self-knowledge

Creative self-knowledge is understood as such types when we begin to know ourselves through relationships with others, in interaction, including using techniques of play, theater, joint activities and events.

One example is participation in dramatic productions. Having chosen a role in a play, a person “tryes on” the character and habits of the character, he forgets himself at the time of the play, and this is the decisive factor. Reincarnation helps a person get rid of many complexes, since through the game one experiences certain situations and conditions that in real life cause discomfort. As a result, the role provides the opportunity to be transported to another, “unreal” space and in it to solve a psychological problem, and as naturally as possible. After all, playing by all the rules of the “game”, a person must become different, that is, he does not work with his complex, instead he lives it through this character.

This technique has a beneficial effect on the psyche, because fear and rejection of internal blocks disappear by themselves - here is the theater, and you are an actor in it, portraying a specific character. It turns out that in addition to the effect of deep self-understanding, which completes the process of transformation, this method also has a psychotherapeutic effect, makes a person more liberated and allows him to accept himself.

To the extent that playing in a stage production contributes to self-discovery, other joint activities, such as singing in a choir, participating in retreats, and group yoga classes, give a person the opportunity to look at himself from the outside, enrich his experience of life in society, and provide rich material for analysis and comparison.

After this type of activity, you can end the day by using one of the techniques of analytical self-knowledge, recording and analyzing events in a diary. It should be noted that any type of self-knowledge that you choose has a beneficial effect on the development of your creative abilities. Therefore, you can safely combine the types and methods you use for self-knowledge, because they will allow your individuality to reveal itself even more, penetrate into your true nature, and help you find out who you really are.

Spiritual self-discovery

Spiritual self-discovery

- This is a separate species, standing a little further away, since it is different in its methods. By choosing a spiritual tradition for oneself as an example and model for practice, a person determines his entire future path of development and self-improvement. Those laws and concepts on which the practice is built will allow a person to best understand himself, penetrate into the deepest layers of consciousness and change himself in a radical way.

So, having chosen the yogic tradition, with each lesson you will begin to delve deeper into the essence of the positions on which the teaching is built. Studying the history of its origin, reading texts related to the practice, and shastras commenting on the original ancient works will allow you to find answers to long-standing questions not only of an internal nature concerning you as an individual, but also about the general structure of existence.

Improving the thought process through understanding the sastras

Information from primary sources is reliable. It has not undergone many modifications. All you receive is concentrated knowledge that has been preserved through the centuries, and now your task is to understand it, pass it through yourself, get used to the style of presentation and be sure to begin to put it into practice through personal experience - sadhus.

The theory, knowledge gained from books and seminars must be put to the test through practice in real life, only then you will truly realize the whole truth and the value that they contain.

In the spiritual form of self-knowledge there are two more components: shabda and sadhu. Shabda is a sound, but a sound that comes from a teacher, someone you trust completely on a particular topic. This person can show you how you can rise on the path of self-development, through which practices, reading which texts will help you achieve the desired result and understand yourself.

Guru guiding personal search

The teacher, your siksha guru, or at more advanced levels - diksha guru - guides you and your consciousness along the path of knowing the true essence of things through the study of scriptural texts - shastras, and you, through your personal experience - sadhu - apply and test the knowledge gained in life. Nothing exists separately, abstracted from one another - everything is connected both in the world and within you.

I don't get upset if people don't understand me, I get upset if I don't understand people
Confucius

Concept of self-knowledge

External experience and internal life interact, their influence on each other is equal. By knowing yourself, you come to know everyone else. Each person will become more understandable to you, you will find logic in the world order and the order of things. Then Goethe’s words that “man knows himself only to the extent that he knows the world” will be filled with new meaning for you. Think about it. External and internal are one. You are part of the universe, and at the same time you are a microcosm.

Values in self-knowledge through yoga practice

Through the spiritual practices of yoga and meditation, a person comes to know the basic values, what to strive for and what to profess. The first stage of yoga—yama—represents a set of value rules that must be followed:

Ahimsa is the principle of non-violence, also practiced through the vegetarian diet;
Satya – truthfulness and veracity;
Asteya - non-stealing;
Brahmacharya - chastity and non-promiscuity;
Aparigraha - non-attachment to worldly goods, renunciation of hoarding.

Through the practice of the 2nd stage of Ashtanga yoga, a person lives according to the principles of niyama, where the following must be observed:

Shauchya - the principle of internal and external purity;
Santosha - practice of modesty;
Tapas - performing austerities on the spiritual path;
Svadhyaya - development of thinking through reading primary sources;
Ishvara-pranidhana - Following the ideal - the highest Reason.

Thus, having a formed list of spiritual life values, a person understands what to strive for and what criteria for the correctness of actions he needs to be guided by as he walks through life.

Need for self-knowledge

Why do we even ask questions about the truth of life’s path, the meaning of life, and eternal values? How to understand yourself and others? These questions are generated by the need for self-knowledge, and it is inherent in a person, a seeker, someone who is not able to simply be satisfied with the material benefits of the world around him. He is constantly in search, so the concept of the meaning of life comes to the fore, because it cannot be found without understanding oneself.

The practice of yoga and meditation opens the way to new discoveries on the road of self-discovery. First of all, these classes allow you to increase your spiritual level, since initially these were exclusively practices of spiritual comprehension of the world. With the advent of the modern era, the understanding of these disciplines has changed somewhat, and the physical aspect has come to the fore, strengthening not only the spirit, but also the body.

However, by correctly understanding the goals of yoga and meditation as its integral part, you can continue to practice yogic asanas, strengthening your health and improving spiritually. One complements the other. Although the world is dual, its two parts - physical and spiritual - can be harmoniously reunited using yoga techniques, implementing the laws prescribed in the first 2 steps of the eightfold system.

Inner peace and self-knowledge

In fact, the very meaning of life is not external. It is just inside - in the inner world of a person. Once we are able to realize this, life and our understanding of it change completely. Therefore, monks appear who sell their Ferraris, and we see sadhus who have parted with their past lives in order to fully follow the spiritual impulses that they felt within themselves. But it's not that simple.

For such people, following the path of spirituality is not just a fleeting, emotionally charged hobby, it is primarily a conscious decision dictated by rare spiritual needs. Their lives are no longer determined by the laws of a modern society built on consumption, they have chosen the needs of the inner world as a beacon, and now their whole life is directed from within. They observe what is happening in the outside world, but now life for them has turned into meditation, where the consciousness contemplates actions, but does not participate in them.

Developmental psychology A. Maslow

Maslow's psychology is also humanistic in nature. He paid great attention to research and identified the main qualities of a self-actualized personality, such as: independence, creativity, philosophical humor, the need for solitude and others.

He believed that humanity is on the threshold of a new psychology, which will allow people to fully reveal their potential and abilities, considering a person as a single and integral mental system. Self-knowledge and self-development of the individual underlie theories of the formation of this personality.

Maslow's Key Findings

Each person has a special original nature, which is received at birth.
A person develops throughout life and can develop the data that he received initially. At the same time, the environment (family, school) significantly influences further development.
Nature has given man the presence of instincts and desires, but over the years, “voices-impulses” reduce their strength as a result of receiving education and total control over oneself. It is these voices that help determine what exactly a person needs, what arouses interest, what he is capable of, and not just what meets the norms and rules of society.
Personality characteristics may be similar for different individuals, or they may be unique, with their own characteristics. Everyone has needs for love, respect, understanding, and there are personal properties and abilities.
Human nature is studied both by science and by man himself, using self-knowledge and psychiatric methods.
Most of the internal, deep thoughts and instincts are suppressed by us and pass into an unconscious form as a result of constant fear, fear of condemnation.
The inner strength of human nature still remains, periodically makes itself felt, and provides an incentive to develop and find oneself.
The basis of a person lies in what was given initially; it is important to be able to understand and accept oneself. Moreover, in choosing on the path of life, the main criterion should be the opinion of the individual, not society. Personality is dynamic and tends to develop throughout life.
The inner essence of a person can be subjected to difficult tests, misunderstandings, and feel rejected in life. Often this leads to real illnesses on a mental level. Difficult situations are considered to be the loss of personality, one’s peculiarities, defining properties, when there is no opportunity to achieve one’s projection, a representation of one’s Self.
Inner strength is initially positive, the main thing is to learn to use it for good, to stimulate the development of creativity, kindness, altruism, and the ability to love.

Secondary qualities

Conscience or guilt is an indicator of a person’s correct behavior; it is compared with internal attitudes and values. It is worth listening to your conscience, it will show the way to find your true Self.
Accepting and loving yourself as a person is necessary for a full and healthy life!
Self-knowledge is the only, main way of personality development.
Self-knowledge and self-development require significant efforts of the individual.
It is important to understand the impact of defense mechanisms - regression, defense, self-preservation. By studying psychiatry, you can understand that realism is also needed in life, since false optimism ultimately leads to disappointment in life.
The theory of free upbringing assumes that the child himself feels what is for his good; he should be given more freedom of choice and action, and not constantly driven into the framework of requirements.
Only by following the path of understanding and accepting one’s essence, purpose, and satisfying the needs of the individual, one can become a real person and reveal one’s potential. First of all, we are talking about spiritual needs.
It is important to remember that without difficulties and disappointments . Therefore, a child must be taught to endure the difficulties of life, while the love of parents and their support is the basis for the formation of a strong personality. Abuse of guardianship can lead to infantilism and inhibit the development of willpower.
A mature personality is distinguished by a type of cognition . D-cognition and B-cognition are distinguished. Moreover, D is selfish , aimed only at one’s own needs, and D is selfless , the ability to do good, to take care of others. The vector of attention of a person with D-cognition is directed more to the outside world than to purely personal interests.
For a normal life, a person needs a system of values , his own coordinate system, which will allow him to exist in this world. To create such a system, it is important to study yourself, understand goals and motives, what is good and bad, what has a positive impact on your own dignity.
A person who can be friends with the unconscious level is often inclined to creativity, and aesthetic education should be the basis of education , psychology and all life.
An important task becomes - to be above ordinary human problems and troubles , to have a simpler attitude towards life, to form a real and healthy perception of life.

Thus, Maslow’s theory involves the search for one’s inner core, self-acceptance and personality development, harmony with the world around us.

Classification of types of self-awareness

The work of exploring one’s “I” is divided into several types. Since the body and soul are inseparable, a person needs to know his body. The biological type of self-knowledge makes it possible to establish a connection with your feelings and physical shell.

Since a person is in society, the main thing for improving the quality of life is to know oneself as an element of a single community of other people. Manner of speech, actions, empathy and relationships are a complex, when studied, you can find harmony.

Self-awareness focused on your personality is also important. Analyzing your abilities, principles and accumulated skills and knowledge helps you decide and confidently follow the path of life.

Psychology of Rubenstein

Self-knowledge and self-development of a person occurs in the process of communication with other people, so a person realizes his characteristics and works on personality characteristics. A person’s character is partly an innate thing associated with the type of nervous system, and partly acquired through life and accumulated experience.

To some extent, the study of character is related to Maslow’s theory, since a characterless person does not have a rigid value system, but a person with a strong character clearly understands his purpose and is confident in his coordinate system, adheres strictly to his line of behavior. The concept of “personality” arises as a result of self-awareness of one’s “I” and one’s actions.

Self-knowledge

Self-awareness arises as a result of human development, mastering new knowledge, understanding one’s capabilities, and managing physical processes. Independence develops in the process of mastering speech and service skills, and later manifests itself in the ability to set tasks, goals, and find the main direction for the development of one’s personality.

Self-knowledge and self-development of the individual are important components in a person’s life; these processes are clearly visible in adolescence, when many questions arise before the individual. A person determines his purpose in this world, the abilities and capabilities of his “I”. These are the first attempts to understand yourself.

Each person has character traits and personal qualities that distinguish him from others. Understanding oneself leads to the formation of personality, awareness of the need for changes in certain directions, and the establishment of one’s own principles of life.

A personality is a person with his own worldview, a clear position in life, which arose as a result of great conscious activity, understanding of himself and life in general.

Individuality - a bright, unique person

Personality is a more global concept, and its formation requires quite significant efforts, attention to this issue and determination.

Such a person has his own characteristics, a “handwriting”, and consciously distinguishes himself from the general mass of people, which presupposes independent thinking and the presence of willpower. At the same time, the depth of personality is determined by the richness of the inner world and relationships with people.

Self-isolation leads to devastation of a person, although to a certain extent it is necessary for carrying out internal work and understanding one’s essence. A personality feature is the ability to look at the world from the outside for a more complete understanding of processes.

A developed person also helps others in the process of self-development. A real personality cannot cause indifference; there can be friends or enemies. Such a person always has strength and an active beginning. Self-awareness develops along with a person throughout life; self-reinterpretation occurs in connection with new experiences.

Each person goes through the process of understanding life, asks himself questions and finds answers, understanding what is most important for him and brings value. Accumulated experience and understanding of life leads to the formation of wisdom. Personality is created and built by a person throughout his conscious life, each person develops in a special way.

It is very important to carry out self-knowledge and self-development in a temporary period and ask questions: what was I like? - what am I? - what do I want to be? However, it is important to understand that a person needs to develop his existing potential, and in the process of labor and creation of something, the personality grows. There is a great relationship between a person and his result of activity.

Personality

A person is always of interest if he can create something significant and it is clear that this is not the limit of possibilities. The development of personality over time can be tracked through human activity, in which it manifests itself and constantly develops.

A person’s characteristics are not always at the forefront of actions, but can also be a consequence. And abilities develop as a result of constant practice; the more attention a person directs to a certain area, the higher the likelihood of success in it and achieving high results.

Each person has his own life story, which can be reflected in an autobiography or resume; they will contain data about the person’s training, work, achievements - thus, the relationship of human development through activity can be traced.

In order to become a historical figure, you need to do things, create creations that will be in the public domain and go down in the history of society.

Self-knowledge as a process of personality development

Universal human values in development and self-knowledge tend to be acquired throughout life. A number of theories and approaches have been developed that assume the individual’s readiness for this process, including the gradual passage of its stages. First, the child learns to distinguish himself from others. Forming with age, he develops beliefs about himself. He also finds motivation that encourages him to develop himself and improve his life.

Self-knowledge determines the culture of behavior, the specificity of thinking and feelings. As a result, everyone can create a scenario of existence and improve it by changing the ways of realizing consciousness.

Basics of self-development and characteristics

The basics of self-development presuppose that a person has the ability to shape his life and achieve his tasks and goals. In addition to activity, this process is also influenced by human activity. He can be socially active (initiative, executive) or socially reactive (impulsive, passive). Social activity goes through the following development paths:

Standard level : schoolchildren, imitation, repetition of actions.
Normative-personal - the teenage period, one’s own outlook on life and attitude to certain issues appears.
Personally productive, productive and creative - an adult who makes a contribution to social life, creates innovations, modernizes the old, introduces elements of creativity into the process of life.

Indispensable conditions for self-development are initiative, and later - consciousness and independence. Social activity contributes to the development of abilities to make one’s own choice of development paths along the path of life, and responsibility for one’s actions appears. Development is impossible without achieving the necessary level of self-awareness, understanding and analysis of one’s personality.

The foundations of self-development directly depend on a person’s inner world and his analysis of real life and the situation at a given stage. The inner world is unique and is partly a reflection of the outer world. There are also suggestions that it develops throughout life, together with the personality itself, under the influence of the surrounding reality.

There are several stages of self-development

revitalization (the child learns to communicate, understand his individuality),
animation (the child masters the outside world),
personalization (learning the rules, norms of life with mentors and understanding one’s role in creating a life story),
individualization (in the process of communication, an idea of one’s personality is formed, characteristics are revealed, and the need for introspection and responsibility for oneself arises),
universalization (a person goes beyond his individuality, unity with superhuman values, faith or spirituality appears).

The foundations of self-development lie in a person’s desire for self-improvement, improving his self throughout his life.

Definition of the concept of self-knowledge

From the moment of birth, a person has the ability to analyze himself and the world around him. Although personality is built through environmental influences, everyone has a unique way of thinking. The study of one’s “I” continues throughout one’s life; this is the meaning of the word self-knowledge.

Tastes, habits, attitudes towards others are an individual construct of thinking, which through internal self-work is built in the correct form.

Mistakes in working on self-awareness

The simplest and therefore erroneous way of understanding one’s personality is to define oneself into some category. It is quite easy to put your thinking under the system, but it should be borne in mind that no classification can include all the individual traits inherent at birth.

In addition, in addition to self-analysis, you need to be sensitive to feedback.

Important! People's opinions, when assessed rationally, can help you pay attention to your shortcomings and develop existing strengths.

By devoting time to self-knowledge, a person achieves a balance between the mind and the physical body, determining his way of life. Constant work on yourself guarantees a restructuring of consciousness and positive changes.

Secondary self-knowledge

The goal of self-knowledge is an in-depth study of one’s own characteristics and using them to one’s own advantage. As a result of the formation of personality, it undergoes some changes, thanks to many factors influencing a person’s life.

Over time, an individual may lose some of his qualities and acquire others. As a result of this process, a partial erasure of ideas about one’s own “I” begins. By undergoing these changes, a person becomes forced to accept the “new” self. After some time, self-acceptance begins through the eyes of others. Very often people see themselves differently from the way their friends and relatives see them. This is also part of self-knowledge. Accepting oneself from different positions plays a huge role in the process of personality development.

In the process of personality formation, there comes a moment when a person seems to know himself and his own reactions to something very well. This period is called secondary self-knowledge. It is formed after a successfully passed crisis of primary self-knowledge. A person begins to realize his own independence, the importance of his judgments and the reaction of others to them.

In order to successfully pass this stage, you only need to be attentive to your own personality while choosing especially important moments.