A Study of Conceptual Representations of the Self in Sohak

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association 2004;42(1):207-227.

『소학』에 나타난 자아의 개념적 표상에 관한 연구

신양재

서울대학교 생활과학대학 아동가족학과

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate conceptual representations of the self in Korean culture by analyzing normative conception of the self present in Sohak. The method of this study was the historical method and the material for analysis is 'Reverencing for the Self of Sohak, which was the textbook for childhood education and contained normative tasks that the society of the Chosen Dynasty period held for what people should do in their lives. According to the analysis, the Chosen Dynasty had interdependent conception of the self, which had strong emphasis on connected relationships, especially between self and parents, and regarded respect, rightness, and politeness as important attributes of the self, and expected reciprocal exchange of mutual support in social roles. Also, there were many instrumental and terminal goals in normative expectations of the self, which were toward harmonious interdependent relationships. Finally, the attributes of the self that were thought of as positive characteristics served collective interests rather than individualistic ones. In addition, the society of the Chosen dynasty regarded socially disengaged emotion such as pride, anger, and pleasure as negative ones.

Keywords: 상호의존적 자아개념화, interdependent conception of the self, 방편적 기대, instrumental expectation of the self, 궁극적 기대, terminal expectation of the self, 긍정적 특성, positive attributions of the self, 부정적 특성, negative attributions of the self