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39 πæ¡“» Õÿâ ßæ√– «“√ “√ √“™∫— ≥±‘ µ¬ ∂“π ªï ∑’Ë ÛÛ ©∫— ∫∑’Ë Û °.§.-°.¬. ÚııÒ Abstract : The Self, Narcissism and Tuaku Khongku Nopamas Oungphra Associate Fellow of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences, The Royal Institute, Thailand The self is the center of our personality. It mediates between our selfish impulses and social conscience. According to western psychologists, not having a self is not an option. The self is so important that there is a movement in the west to boost self-esteem with the assumption that high self-esteem will cure social ills of all kinds. However, evidence has indicated that high self-esteem which is also associated with egoism and narcissism causes social problems. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu has agreed to these with points. However, he went further in indicating that egoism is the source of all social problems and human sufferings. Therefore, egoism should be eradicated in order to rid humans of sufferings. To him, the self should not exist at all. We should not have even a positive (virtuous) self. We should be free from all types of attachment including to the good self. However, since it is very difficult to attain that state, Buddhism therefore encourages people to get rid of the evil self, maintain good a self and have a pure heart. Hence, the positive self is allowed but ideally we should not have any selfhood at all. Key words : self, self-esteem, Tuaku Khongku Social Psychology. 52 : 245-259. Smith, G.E., Gerrard, M., & Gibbons, F.X. (1997). Self-esteem and the relation between risk behavior and perception of vulnerability to unplanned pregnancy in college women. Health Psychology. 16 : 137-146. Suls, J., & Wa, C.K. (1987). In search of the false uniqueness phenomenon: Fear and estimates of social consensus. Journal of Personality and Social Psy- chology. 52 : 211-217. Taylor, S.E. (1983). Adjustment to threatening events: A theory of cognitive adaptation. American Psychologist. 38 : 1161-1173. Taylor, S.E., Peplau, L.A., & Sears, D.O. (2003). Social psychology. (11th ed.) New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River. Twenge, J.M. 2006. Generation me. New York: Free Press. Twenge, J.M., & Campbell, W.K. (2001). Age and birth cohort differences in self-esteem: A cross-temporal meta- analysis. Personality and Social Psychology. 5 : 321-344. Wills, T.A. (1981). Downward comparison principles in social psychology. Psychological Bulletin. 90 : 245-271.