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: Understanding the Concept:
Psychologist William James made a classic distinction between two aspects of the self:

The "I" (Self as Subject): This is the self that is the agent, the knower, the actor. It is the part of you that experiences, thinks, and feels in the present moment. It is the self that is "actively engaging."
The "Me" (Self as Object): This is the self that is known, observed, and described. It is the collection of beliefs, traits, and characteristics you hold about yourself (e.g., "I am tall," "I am a student").
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The question describes the self as an "actor" that "actively engages in the process of knowing." This directly refers to the "I" – the self as the agent or subject. The self as an object would be the knowledge that is gained from this process (the "itself" that is known). The "ideal self" is who we want to be, and the "real self" refers to who we actually are (concepts from Carl Rogers).
Step 3: Final Answer:
The status of the self as an active agent engaged in knowing is the self as subject.