Answer:
Commonly discussed “types of self” in psychology (different theoretical lenses) include:
- Material/self-body (William James): the self defined by physical possessions, body, appearance and material circumstances.
- Social self (James / Cooley): the self as reflected in social roles and how others perceive us (including the looking‑glass self).
- Spiritual/self of consciousness (James): inner states, temperament, values, moral and psychic qualities.
- “I” vs. “Me” (George Herbert Mead): the “I” = the spontaneous, agentic subject; the “Me” = the self as object, shaped by social norms.
- Actual, Ideal, and Ought selves (Higgins — self‑discrepancy theory): the self you believe you are (actual), the self you wish to be (ideal), and the self you feel you should be (ought).
- Possible selves (Markus & Nurius): imagined future selves (hopes, fears, goals) that guide motivation and behavior.
- Personal vs. Social/Collective self: personal self = unique individual traits; social/collective self = identity derived from group memberships (e.g., gender, nationality).
- Self‑schema, self‑esteem, self‑efficacy (components of self‑concept): cognitive structures about the self (schemas), evaluative feelings about the self (esteem), and beliefs about capability (efficacy).
Explanation:
These are not mutually exclusive types but different ways researchers and theorists describe facets or perspectives on the self. Which typology is most useful depends on your purpose (e.g., social identity research uses collective vs. personal self; clinical work often focuses on self‑discrepancy and self‑esteem). Tell me which framework or application you’re interested in and I can expand or give examples.