A Multidisciplinary Exploration of Self-Identity Development: Applying Awareness Integration Theory in Psychopathology and Genetic Research
Main Article Content
Foojan Zeine
http://orcid.org/0009-0006-7709-5580
Nicole Jafari
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7762-9673
Eileen Manoukian
Hila Madani
Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7842-2914
Alireza Sharafshah
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8048-9587
Rajendra D Badgaiyan
David Baron
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7670-2613
Abdalla Bowirrat
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8185-0688
Kenneth Blum
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6727-803X
http://orcid.org/0009-0006-7709-5580
Nicole Jafari
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7762-9673
Eileen Manoukian
Hila Madani
Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7842-2914
Alireza Sharafshah
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8048-9587
Rajendra D Badgaiyan
David Baron
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7670-2613
Abdalla Bowirrat
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8185-0688
Kenneth Blum
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6727-803X
Abstract
Self-awareness and identity development are fundamental aspects of human cognition, shaping an individual's perception of self and their interaction with the world. Awareness Integration Theory (AIT) offers a structured approach to fostering self-awareness and identity formation by integrating cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes. This paper explores the multifaceted nature of self-awareness as a developmental milestone influenced by psychological, cultural, and neurobiological factors. Drawing from Erikson’s psychosocial development framework and contemporary research, we examine how self-identity evolves across the lifespan and the role of introspection in identity consolidation. We discuss the impact of social and cultural influences on self-concept, emphasizing the interplay between personal beliefs and external societal expectations. Furthermore, we investigate the neurobiological underpinnings of self-awareness, exploring genetic factors and the role of neural networks such as the Default Mode Network (DMN) in self-referential thought processes. The article also discusses different concepts of self as defined based on philosophical accounts, psychological, and cognitive as well as neuroscientific data on self and self-reference is complementary to AIT’s approach. Additionally, we introduce AIT as a comprehensive psychotherapeutic model that facilitates self-exploration and integration. By synthesizing insights from cognitive-behavioral therapy, existential therapy, and neuroscience, AIT provides a pathway for individuals to achieve self-cohesion and personal growth. Understanding the mechanisms underlying self-awareness and identity formation has profound implications for psychological well-being, therapeutic interventions, and overall life satisfaction. This paper calls for continued interdisciplinary research to refine our comprehension of self-awareness and its potential applications in mental health and human development.
Keywords:
Self-identity, Awareness Integration Theory (AIT), molecular neurobiologic correlates, genes, dopamininergic pathwys, GWAS, pharmacogenomics
Article Details
How to Cite
ZEINE, Foojan et al.
A Multidisciplinary Exploration of Self-Identity Development: Applying Awareness Integration Theory in Psychopathology and Genetic Research.
Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 13, n. 3, mar. 2025.
ISSN 2375-1924.
Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/6294>. Date accessed: 06 apr. 2025.
doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v3i3.6294.
Section
Review Articles
The Medical Research Archives grants authors the right to publish and reproduce the unrevised contribution in whole or in part at any time and in any form for any scholarly non-commercial purpose with the condition that all publications of the contribution include a full citation to the journal as published by the Medical Research Archives.
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6. Northoff, G. (2013). Brain and self - a neurophilosophical account. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2013 Jul 31;7(1):28. doi: 10.1186/1753-2000-7-28. PMID: 23902725; PMCID: PMC3734106.
7. Brown. J. D. (1998). The self. Routledge. Published September 1, 2007, by Psychology Press
8. Jafari, N., Donham, C., & Piper-Mandy, E. (2018). Child & Adolescent Development - A Multidisciplinary, Multicultural Perspective. 2nd Edition. Knoa Media & Publishing Co., 3526 Fawn Hill Rd, Matthews, North Carolina, 28105.
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10. Lu, C., & Wan, C. (2018). Cultural Self-Awareness as Awareness of Culture’s Influence on the Self: Implications for Cultural Identification and Well-Being. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 44(6), 823-837. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167217752117
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14. Roy, A. K., Bowirrat, A., Smith, D. E., Braverman, E. R., Jalali, R., Badgaiyan, R. D., Baron, D., Llanos-Gomez, L., Barh. D., & Blum, K. (2021). Neurobiology and Spirituality in Addiction Recovery. Acta Sci Neurol. 2021 Aug 28;4(9):64-71. PMID: 35098052; PMCID: PMC8793770
15. Lage, A.C., Wolmarans, D. W., & Mograbi, D. C. (2022). An evolutionary view of self-Awareness. Vol: 194, Page: 104543. Publisher Behavioural Processes, Elsevier Jan 21
16. Zeine, F. (2014). Awareness integration: A new Mental Health and Human Resilience 16, 278-283 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25585478/
17. Zeine, F. (2021). Awareness integration therapy: Clear the past, create a new future, and live a fulfilled life now. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
18. Butterworth, G. (1992). Self-perception as a foundation for self-knowledge. Psychological Inquiry, 3(2), 134-136. Taylor & Francis, Ltd.
19. Bowlby, J. (1969). The making and breaking of affectional bonds. Tavistock Publications.
20. Vignoles, V. L., Chryssochoou, X., & Breakwell, G. M. (2000). The distinctiveness principle: Identity, meaning, and the bounds of cultural relativity. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 4(4). https://doi.org/10.1207?S15327957PSPRO404_4
21. Ward, S. J., & King, L.A. (2018). Moral self-regulation, moral identity, and religiosity. J Pers Soc.;115(3):495-525. doi: 10.1037/pspp0000207. Epub Jul 19. PMID:30024183.
22. Kihlstrom, J. F. (1990). The psychological unconscious. In L. A. Pervin (Eds), Handbook of personality: Theory and research (pp. 445-464). Guilford Press.
23. Buss, D. M., & Kenrick, D. T. (1998). Evolutionary social psychology. In D. T. Gilbert, S. T. Fiske, & G. Lindzey (Eds.). The Handbook of Social Psychology (pp. 982-1026). McGraw-Hill.
24. Mead, G. (1934). Mind, self, and society. University of Chicago Press.
25. Cooley, C.H. (1902). Human nature and the social order.
26. Areal, L. B., & Blakely, R.D. (2020). Neurobehavioral changes arising from early life dopamine signaling perturbations. Neurochem Int. 2020 Jul;137:10474 7. doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2020. 104747. Epub 2020 Apr 20. PMID: 32325191; PMCID: PMC7261509
27. Shapiro, F. (1995). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures. Guilford Press.
28. Siegel, D. J. (1999). The developing mind: Toward a neurobiology of interpersonal experience. Guilford Press.
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