The roots of Sullivan's concept of self

Summary

In summing up, the point made at the beginning should be emphasized. Harry Stack Sullivan wrote as a clinical psychiatristfor psychiatrists, and what he wrote was based on insights and concepts that are rooted deep in American philosophy.

This paper has attempted to spell this out by describing Sullivan's concept of self in its historical context, in its relation to the work of Peirce, James, and Mead; and it has attempted to clarify the distinction Sullivan made between the individual human being, who is in the process of becoming a full person, and the self-conscious part of that being, whose security operations he was so expert in recognizing and circumventing.

The written work of Harry Stack Sullivan expresses his assiduous efforts to share his important observations and concepts with others, so that might help persons who are in need of help toward more fortunate experiences of living.