• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.1-36
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• 2006

This study examines the conception of the self using indigenous, cultural and psychological analysis. The self is viewed from four aspects: (1) conception of the self as an entity (the self in general, the self as an unique entity and the self when alone), (2) conception of self in the context of family (the self when with mother, father, children and spouse), (3) the self with the context of close and working relationships (the self when with friends, teachers, work superior and work subordinate), and (4) the self in context of the larger society (the self when with strangers and foreigners). A total of 1,465 respondents (623 elementary, middle, high and university students and their parents = 842) completed an open-ended questionnaire developed by the present authors. The results reveal two patterns of results. First, the conception of self in Korea is influence by one's role. Second, the conception of self in influenced by relationship and context and there is an emphasis on the flexibility and adjustment of the self to relationship and context. Implications of the conception of the self in context of relationships, roles, and contexts are discussed, along with the importance of indigenous, cultural and psychological analysis.