Culture and self in postmodern perspective

Abstract

Recent debates about psychology's conception of self have appealed to the growing literature on postmodernism. As a contribution to this debate, five definitive principles of postmodern thought are presented as descriptions of contemporary culture. The implications of these principles for conceptions of self and personality are explored. Their relation to prominent aspects of contemporary culture, relevant psychosocial studies and theoretical formulations are examined. Our analysis suggests that a decentralized, flexible and pluralistic self is emerging in contemporary culture. A series of theoretical challenges to modem views of self are presented and sociopolitical implications noted.