The Learning Self: Understanding the Potential for Transformation

Praise for The Learning Self "In this age of self–help, the ′self′ is a term thrown around with abandon. For educators, the notion of self–directed learning is a key concept. Yet the notion of self is deeply problematic, even contentious. The world has needed a book that deftly and accessibly takes the idea of the self and looks at it in a sympathetic but critical way. Mark Tennant has written that book. It is a highly readable and fascinating deconstruction of this key idea that will be appreciated by all helping professionals."—Stephen Brookfield, Distinguished University Professor, University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis–St. Paul "An excellent contribution to the field! This is a clearly written text that takes the reader far beyond much contemporary work in psychology and learning. It opens up new ways of thinking about the learning self and provides a significant contribution to transformative learning theory. This is a book that should be read by every student of psychology, learning, and the self."—Peter Jarvis, professor emeritus of continuing education, University of Surrey, United Kingdom

Preface vii About the Author xiii 1. Introduction 1 2. The Authentic or Real Self 17 3. The Autonomous Self 35 4. The Repressed Self 55 5. The Socially Constructed Self 73 6. The Storied Self 89 7. Knowing Oneself 107 8. Controlling Oneself 123 9. Caring for Oneself 137 10. (Re)creating Oneself 151 References 173 Index 191

Mark Tennant is professor emeritus of education at the University of Technology, Sydney, where he has held the positions of dean of the University Graduate School and dean of the Faculty of Education. He was the recipient of the Cyril O. Houle Award for Literature in Adult Education for his book Psychology and Adult Learning and is the coauthor of Learning and Change in the Adult Years and Teaching, Learning and Research in Higher Education.