Hi, I’m Monica Turcan and I’m a PhD researcher exploring what self-love really means and how we can practice it in everyday life.

My mission is to answer these questions by building a reliable, operational behavioural framework of self-love. This framework provides a foundation for future research, assessment tools, and practical interventions that promote wellbeing in everyday life.

Defining Self-Love
Drawing on Western perspectives, such as Jack E. Underwood Jr.’s (2020) model of self-love as a positive and caring relationship with oneself, we emphasize self-acceptance, self-awareness, self-worth, self-care, and self-respect.

At the same time, we integrate Eastern perspectives, particularly Li Ming Xue’s (2021) four dimensions of self-love — self, family, others, and society. This lens highlights interdependence, modesty, and harmony alongside autonomy and personal growth.

Cultural Nuance
By contrasting Western individualism with Eastern relational values, we investigate how cultural norms, values, and social scripts shape both the experience and practice of self-love.

Building a Framework
Our goal is to create an actionable and culturally sensitive model of self-love that not only advances academic theory but also informs applied psychology, interventions, and personal practice worldwide.