Bugün liseden beri benimle olan çok sevdiğim bir yüzüğümü kaybettim. Amerika'daki ilk psikoloji laboratuvarını kurmuş olan William James (1842-1910) "benlik" (self) tanımını yaparken, üç farklı yönden bahseder bunlar; maddesel benlik (vücudumuz, kıyafetlerimiz, sahip olduğumuz şeyler, aile, ev), sosyal benlik (kim olduğumuz ve diğer insanlarla iletişimde nasıl davrandığımız) ve ruhsal benliktir (bireyin içsel durumu, psikolojik aktiviteleri).
''In its widest possible sense...a man's Self is the sum total of all that he can call his, not only his body and his psychic powers, but his clothes and his house, his wife and children, his ancestors and friends, his reputation and works...If they wax and prosper, he feels triumphant, if they dwindle and die away, he feels cast down.''
James, 1890/1950, pp. 291-292
''In its widest possible sense...a man's Self is the sum total of all that he can call his, not only his body and his psychic powers, but his clothes and his house, his wife and children, his ancestors and friends, his reputation and works...If they wax and prosper, he feels triumphant, if they dwindle and die away, he feels cast down.''
James, 1890/1950, pp. 291-292