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Toward a Sustainable Myth of Self

An Existential Response to the Postmodern Condition

University of the Rockies

Sharon Stewart

University of the Rockies

Denise Warren

University of the Rockies

Lisa Meek

University of the Rockies

The self has come under considerable attack in postmodern times. Amidst many deconstructions and reformulations of the self, various myths of self have lost their sustainability. This article reviews various theoretical perspectives on the self along with many postmodern challenges to the self. It is proposed that the self is a socially constructed entity which can be conceptualized from a variety of perspectives; however, not all myths of self are equal. In particular, premodern and modern myths of self are inadequate for postmodern times. Building from an existential—integrative perspective, we propose Schneider's paradoxical self as a promising myth of self for postmodern times.

Key Words: existential psychology • postmodernism • self • myths • personality theory

This version was published on April 1, 2009

Journal of Humanistic Psychology, Vol. 49, No. 2, 135-173 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0022167808324880


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