Roots Of Adulthood Summary

As time has progressed forward throughout many centuries, so has society. Society has progressed through change, problems and opportunities. Many of these changes have come from a problem that arose and in turn created the opportunity for change. As many people experience these changes, problems and opportunities, they combine to be a key to the changing self of people within society. The changes, problems and opportunities within society have had an impact on people all the way to the realization that a person views their self as the center of values, morality, as well as authority. In “The Self and Society: Changes, Problems, and Opportunities”, Roy F. Baumeister discusses how society has an effect on a person’s self. He claims that a

These experiences constitute the essential nature of selfhood. Yet Baumeister explains that today's society and culture has the ability to use, alter, shape and adapt these experiences. The three universal experiences in which Baumeister explains are reflexive consciousness, interpersonal being and executive function.
The first experience that Baumeister explains in his essay is reflexive consciousness. He states, “Without reflexive consciousness, the very notion of self would be incomprehensible”(321). Baumeister explains to the reader how important it is for people to have this reflexive consciousness. He claims that without it, it would be impossible for someone to have the needed knowledge about the self.
The next of the three universal experiences that people all experience in their life is the interpersonal being. He explains, “The interpersonal aspect of self is the focal one in love and hate, in rivalry and competition, in trying to live up to someone’s expectations or worrying about what impression one is making”(321). Baumeister makes the point to his readers that the interpersonal being is very important for any person and their relationships with others. He explains in the quote that this experience is important for expectations and the meeting of the expectations by a

He explains that the value gap is, “loss of moral sense” in his own words. In his explanation of the self acclaimed value gap, he talks about how many people in society have lost the emotional tie into God’s will. This means that even if their actions may look good in the eyes of society, it is still not morally right.
The final, and most important point that Baumeister makes when he talks about the new found look on moral loss as an effect on the self, is when he says, “Today’s Americans believe that they have a right and even a duty to do what is best for their individual, unique, esteemed self”(328). This statement by Baumeister is key as it shows the thought process of self by people today. Instead of thinking and acting in ways that show they are moral, they act and think in fashions for their own personal benefit.
Baumeister makes the claim that the self has become for many people today the center of value, morality, and authority. I agree with Baumeister that many people go off on their own judgment and their own self. They use their self as the center of value, morality, and authority through self-identification objects and the lack of use of