860 Words complete Essay on Sentiments

The word sentiment is synonymous with passion. Yet we do not use passion in place of sentiment. Love and hate are typical sentiments and are generally calm and cool.

Yet they sometimes become pronounceable passionate. When love generates violent emotions and impulses of great intensity, it becomes passion. So we do not use passion in place of sentiment because it implies violence and intensity of excitement.

Self-regarding Sentiments: ‘Self’ means ‘oneself’ identity one’s personality i.e. what one is self can be defined roughly as the elaboration of such statement as-‘I am this sort of a person’ self refers to the image of total personality of an individual, including bodily self and the sense of identity,

(i) Self-Concept:

A human being is aware of himself. He is aware of his past and future and of other people. As he is aware of his own life and ultimate death, he must establish a firm identity and a purpose and meaning for his life.

Self concept is the totality of the perceptions that one has about himself, his attitude towards himself, the language he uses to describe himself.

(ii) Self-Esteem:

The child’s self-esteem is, especially his-self judgment of his own abilities, influence and popularity. To a certain extent, it is a mirror image of the judgment of others. Self esteem is a positive attitude towards oneself and one’s behaviour. Quite often, it is a lasting personal disposition.

(iii) Self-image:

The perfect and ideal self which the individual imagines himself or herself to be often identification with m idealized conception of what he or she should be.

Self-regarding sentiments and formation of character: Self-regarding sentiments results from the regard a person attach to himself as a result of learning’s from role models like parents, teachers and other strong influences.

Self-regarding sentiments provide stability to the person’s life. Therefore, the small dissatisfaction or frustration may lead to a conflict. To overcome such conflicts the person needs strong will-power.

Thus high regard for self due to chosen standards of conduct along with strong will-power can actually frustrate characters that make meaningful changes to the society.

Discuss the formation of character. List five types of character.

Formation of Character:

Character is related to morality in some respects. How moral sentiments are formed is easy to explain. The moral qualities, which the child develops, are developed through imitative process.

The way, in which elders react emotionally to actions, becomes the way in which the child reacts to them. He takes up as model the qualities which his parents or teachers appear to like in their conduct. The qualities which they condemn are condemned by the child also.

But perhaps more influential is the group, the family, the school, the community and the church which have certain moral sentiments in common, e.g., a common hatred for lying, stealing, deceiving or a common admiration for courage, justice, honesty and fair play. The other way, in which moral sentiments are acquired by the child, relates to the formation of the sentiment of self-regard.

Through a very long and subtle process the child begins to conceive self clearly and distinctly. Self-regard means self-respect, self-esteem, self-love, self-pride and self-ambition. Many acute satisfaction and sufferings, many emotional experiences, are the product “f the working of this sentiment of self-regard; for example, many people are forced to commit suicide because of fear of shame or disgrace.

Self-regarding sentiments motivates them to do such crimes. The person, who has a feeling of elf-respect, asserts himself. He has a feeling of pride in himself, a tendency or dominance over others. At the same time he has a propensity for submission also. Whatever be the nature of self-regarding sentiment, it is the sense of

Self-esteem that forces us not to do immoral acts. Types of Character: Peck has identified five types of character. These tie fall in line with Kohlberg’s six stages of moral reasoning. The types of character are as follows:

(1) Amoral :

Such type of students are self-centered and act on impulse There is no sense of discriminating right and wrong, no feeling of guilt, me self-gratification. They may conceal and give a charming appearance to other

(2) Expedient:

Such types of students are self-centered and always strive t gain reward and avoid punishment. They are inconsistent in their behavior and concerned about their own welfare only.

(3) Conformist:

Some students act in accordance with social demands. They are basically immature in nature, but superficially appear to be conforming to societal norms and pretend to be model citizens.

(4) Irrational conscientious:

Such types of students have a set of standard and moral code of their own, but conform quite rigidly. They are bound to their conscience and feel guilty if they violate it. They have a sense of right and wrong and certain acts may be considered right and certain wrong.

(5) Rational altruistic:

Such students have of morals, principles. They evaluate, accept and habitually act upon principles. They may tend to change their principles according to their insights and welfare of other human beings.

They may act in a socially constructive way but in accordance with their personal convictions. They are unselfish persons.