Stage Theories of Personality Development : The Enigma of the "Second Birth".

Focusing on the development of the self, the inner side of the personality, this study elucidated the enigma of the "second birth" which was once believed to be an important turning point in the development of the personality. First, we reviewed Neisser's theory of "five selves," one of the most representative theories of the self. This review suggested that among the five selves, the "private self" has not been empirically investigated to date. Second, the study of the "I-am-me" experience was introduced. This experience had been discussed in German youth psychology as a second birth, and several Japanese psychologists are currently investigating this phenomenon. Third, by comparing the private self and "I-am-me" experience, it was concluded that the latter experience might originate from a conflict between the conceptual self and the private self. When "I-am-me" experiences occur simultaneously with the advent of adolescence, the experience might be recalled as a second birth. Finally, this paper discussed the first-person psychology of personality development, which is necessary to revive the theme of the second birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]