The Ecology of the Self

This 1991 book addresses the question of stability and change in our concepts of ourselves. The self is described as part of an ecological system, seen as a conjunction of other people, environments and objects. These serve as the sources and settings, instruments and symbols of social experience. The external elements of the ecological system are reflected in self-related cognitions: so long as the ecology of the self is stable, the self-concept will likewise achieve stability. Self-concept change, therefore, can be studied from the point of view of change in the relationship between person and environment. Using a multi-method, multi-study approach, Stefan Hormuth takes relocation as his paradigm for assessing the meaning of the physical environment for the self-concept and everyday social behaviour. This book presents results from an original and important research programme which is innovative both theoretically and methodologically.