Toward an Ontology of the Self: A Theoretical Framework

Abstract

Introduction

In typical circumstances, the Self is experienced as a complex, multi-aspect entity [1]. Disciplines such as psychology and neuroscience identify a variety of these aspects, emphasizing how they relate to, e.g., mental-health-related constructs. Our work is part of a larger project that seeks to develop a computational system to identify Self-aspects in text. This could be used by professionals across disciplines to detect those Self-aspects most relevant to their specific objectives, based on textual data such as clinical interviews or personal narratives. However, pursuing this goal requires the construction of a comprehensive overview of Self-aspects, which is currently lacking. 

Methodology

Our study, theoretical in nature, addresses this issue. Specifically, we aim to build a Self ontology in which Self-aspects (i.e., the core dimensions constituting the Self), elements (i.e., the specific components making up each aspect), and modes (i.e., the characteristic ways in which aspects or elements manifest in experience) are defined. Each will be accompanied by examples of text instances showing either its presence or absence. To achieve this, we first reviewed core literature on the Self, identifying key terms and establishing a foundational understanding from which to develop our ontology. We prioritised Self-aspects that are both relevant to potential applied contexts and plausibly detectable in textual data. Drawing on these definitions, we identified relevant instances across, e.g., academic texts, articles, Reddit posts, phenomenological interview transcripts [1]. 

Findings

So far, we have focused on two Self-aspects: Sense of Agency (SoA) and Bodily Self (BS). SoA refers to the sense of having control, the capacity to act intentionally, make decisions, influence outcomes, and attribute those outcomes to oneself [2]. One of the many ways agency has been categorized is by its State of activation [3]. This includes three modes: active (full control), reduced agency (limited manipulation and partial engagement), and passive (little or no sense of agency). BS refers to the experience of one’s physical body [3]. It comprises elements such as Bodily Sensations, Spatial Location, Awareness, and Identification, among others, which interact in complex ways to generate a coherent and unified experience. For example, the Sense of Ownership, which one might feel for the whole body, only parts of it, or even for objects completely removed, can be modulated by the SoA and vice versa. 

Conclusion

The main limitation of our work lies in the necessary reduction of complex and intertwined phenomena into discrete entities. However, this effort to clearly define a structured framework aims to lay the foundation for further research into the nature of the Self and Self-related constructs.

References

[1] J. Caporusso, “Dissolution experiences and the experience of the self: An empirical phenomenological investigation,” M.S. thesis, Dept. Phil., Univ. of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, 2022. [Online]. doi: 10.25365/thesis.71694.

[2] A. Bandura, “Toward a Psychology of Human Agency: Pathways and Reflections”, Perspect. Psychol. Sci., vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 130–136, Mar. 2018. doi: 10.1177/1745691617699280.

[3] O. Nave et al., “Self-Boundary Dissolution in Meditation: A Phenomenological Investigation”, Brain Sciences, vol. 11, no. 6, p. 819, Jun. 2021. doi: 10.3390/brainsci11060819.