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Models of the Self in foreign psychology // Pedagogical Review. 2024. Issue 4 (56). P. 111-123

The models of Self created in foreign psychology are considered. Their place is taken into account in broader theories to classify models of the Self. For this purpose, larger theories are divided into groups. They were separated and refined by psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, socio-psychological, narrative and existential-humanistic models of the Self. In psychodynamic models, the Self refers to the areas of consciousness and subconscious, considering them together. In this case, the Self differentiates and splits through divergence and fragmentation, or, conversely, deals with convergence and the emergence of a holistic Self. Behavioral patterns demonstrate a behavioral view of the Self. It included the Self as ongoing activity, including external behavior, verbal behavior and internal activity. Cognitive models refer to descriptions, prescriptions, and expectations about qualities and goals associated with a person’s sense of self. The cognitive self is a filter of incoming information. Social psychological models view the Self as subject and object, a relationship through which the Self is separated from itself. In narrative models, the Self concerns life stories that reconstruct the past and address the present and imagined future in unity. These are people’s stories about themselves. Existential-humanistic models deal with the Self, which tends to actualize itself. This leads to differentiation, symbolization and experience. A common feature of all models of the Self is their fragmentation. The prospect of their integration points to a hopeful future.

Keywords: foreign models of the Self, differentiation of the Self, psychodynamic Self, behavioral Self, cognitive Self, socio-psychological Self, narrative Self, existential-humanistic Self

Integral individuality as a scientific theory // Pedagogical Review. 2025. Issue 3 (61). P. 130-141

Merlin considered integral individuality as scientific theory. He showed there were many traits with diverse origins. They varied from biochemical to socio-psychological. But their commonality was outside the focus. Merlin based his theory on new criteria. He accepted diversity and plurality of traits. At the same time, he attempted to overcome disunity by integrating them. First, “individuality” reveals unity of traits. Second, connections between traits complement their composition. Third, structure adds to composition. From this view, individual traits can coexist and function together despite diversity. The goal is to test this by integrating traits. Merlin’s approach allows solving this issue. Initial concepts are levels, polymorphism, mediation, and types of regularities. As a result, traits emerge across levels. Causal regularities manage connections within levels. Teleological regularities manage between-level connections. Polymorphic connections can change under mediation. All of this is a basis of the theory of integral individuality. It forms foundation for new field expanding personality and individual differences research. Paper outlines progress of Merlin’s theory and implications for practice. To summarize, Merlin’s theory brings a brief look.

Keywords: integral individuality, scientific, theory, connections, levels, polymorphisms mediation, causal and teleological regularities