[Ailist] AI and self-concept

[Anita Vestal]

A thought to share with Amanda, Rob and Guido, building on Amanda's  
recommendation of Seligman's later works... Martin Seligman came full  
circle having started his career in psychology with the concept of  
"learned helplessness". We have seen this in animal training  
(elephants chained at the foot) and in human relationships (women in  
domestic violence situations refusing to leave). The learned  
helplessness part might relate to the "worst self moments" that Rob  
describes.

After years of being distinguished in his identification with learned  
helplessness, he wondered what the opposite of this condition would  
be. This is when he began to study optimism and authentic happiness.  
His work is rich in that he has studied both ends of the continuum.

Another thought I often share with those who become overwhelmed with  
the opinion of others to the point where they are not confident about  
their decisions to move forward is Abraham Maslow's description of  
self-actualizers. To be self-actualized, he said, one must be willing  
to divorce herself from the good opinion of others.


Anita Vesttal

Quoting Amanda Trosten-Bloom <amandatrostenbloom at mac.com>:

> While also not directly from the field of AI, read Marty Seligman's
> book Learned Optimism.  It demonstrates how teaching people to change
> the way they talk to themselves (inner dialogue) - particularly when
> things go wrong - can alter self-concept, lift clinical depression, and
> increase performance.
>
> He later co-authored a later book called The Optimistic Child, which
> I've not finished reading - but that has similar insights.
>
> Warmly,
>
> Amanda Trosten-Bloom
> Principal
> Corporation for Positive Change
> 303-279-2240
> amanda at positivechange.org
> www.positivechange.org
>
> Co-Author of The Power of Appreciative Inquiry
>
>
> On Jun 20, 2007, at 4:00 PM, ailist-request at lists.business.utah.edu wrote:
>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 3
>> Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2007 21:17:20 -0700
>> From: "Rob Voyle" <rob at voyle.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Ailist] self concept
>> To: Guido Cuyvers <guido.cuyvers at khk.be>,
>> 	ailist at lists.business.utah.edu
>> Message-ID: <467847E0.14107.3DA0C987 at rob.voyle.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>>
>> Hi Guido
>>
>> While it not specifically about AI, Steve Andreas' book   
>> transforming yourself is all
>> about helping people transform their self image.
>>
>> In my work with individuals I use AI to help people discover their   
>> "best self" and
>> then to consider how they image themselves.  People will typically form some
>> kind of image or picture of themselves.  The remembering of best exeriences
>> helps people re-member or put themself back together at their best.
>>
>> What I learned from Steve was how to work with the "how" people create their
>> image of self and how to transform it, especially in dealing with counter
>> examples of their best self.  That is we can help people discover   
>> their best self
>> but they also have many memories or pictures of times when they   
>> have failed to
>> be that best self and even been the direct opposite of it.  the   
>> challenge for
>> people is to discover what is actually true about themselves.  Just  
>>  ignoring or
>> denying these worst self moments doesn't make them go away, it actually
>> exacerbates them which can lead to a great deal of internal   
>> confusion and strive.
>> Self forgiveness is important.  We need internal truth and   
>> reconciliation not
>> denial and reconciliation.
>>
>> The strategy is to make sure the best self is a "bigger" image than  
>>  the counter
>> example image and that we learn from the past mistake what we will do
>> differently in the future and see our selves doing that in the   
>> future and then
>> integrate the two images.
>>
>> What people report when they integrate these counter examples into   
>> their self
>> concept is that they feel more whole, real, authetic etc. and they   
>> are more able
>> to handle criticism, because they are more able to openly   
>> acknowledge failings
>> without becoming defensive or shamed.
>>
>> Rob
>>
>> Robert J. Voyle, Psy.D.
>> Director, Clergy Leadership Institute
>> For Coaching and Training in Appreciative Inquiry
>> Author: Core Elements of the Appreciative Way
>> http://www.clergyleadership.com/
>> 503-647-2378 or 503-647-2382
>>
>> On 18 Jun 2007 at 16:52, Guido Cuyvers wrote:
>>
>>> This is my question:
>>>
>>>
>>> Who can inform me about insights or theories about the relationship
>>> between AI and self concept and about aplications or methods using
>>> AI
>>> to improve self concept?
>>>
>>> Kind regards
>>>
>>> Guido CUYVERS
>>> Coördinator Onderwijsontwikkeling
>>> KATHOLIEKE HOGESCHOOL KEMPEN
>>> Kleinhoefstraat 4
>>> 2440 GEEL
>>> Tel 0032 14 562310
>>> Fax 0032 14 584859
>>> e-mail guido.cuyvers at khk.be
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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-- 
Anita Vestal, Ph.D
Certified Mediator
Accredited Teacher of
    Tái Chi Chih

www.anitavestal.net
http://vestala.byregion.net


Be the change you want to see in the world

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