Self-Concept: What Is Self Concept?

The first unit on our textbook Interactions by Ann Moseley and Jeanette Harris talks about the self-concept. It is hard to find a definition for the self-concept because it is certain beliefs about ethnicity, religion, and personalities combined. This unit has a number of readings by various authors where it shows struggles with the self. Self-identity, ethnic backgrounds, and self-esteem are the major aspects of those readings. After reading their writings I found that I could relate to their experiences. The three readings that got my attention were “Zero” By Paul Logan, “I’m Just Me” by Lylah Alphonse, and “The Jacket” by Gary Soto.

Identity is a group of characteristics, data or information that belongs exactly to one person or a group of people and that make it possible to establish differences between them. The consciousness that people have about themselves is part of their identity as well as what makes them unique. According to psychologists, identity is a consistent definition of one’s self as a unique individual, in terms of role, attitudes, beliefs and aspirations. Identity tries to define who people are, what they are, where they go or what they want to be or to do. Identity could depend on self-knowledge, self-esteem, or the ability of individuals to achieve their goals. Through self-analysis people can define who they are and who the people around them

Self-concept it is the collection of experiences and beliefs about one self, and how these experiences, beliefs interact to form a picture according to individual’s perspective what kind of a person an individual is. This includes physical and mental

Concept of self, self-esteem and self-efficacy. Refers to beliefs about who we are, how good we feel about ourselves, and how capable we believe we are at performing task.

Self Image - The opinion that you have of your own worth, attractiveness, or intelligence.

For the most part, what psychologists talk about as 'identity,' although a useful construct, is a complete illusion." The example he gives is how people tend to act differently in different situations. For instance, a teenage boy is usually one way around his friends, another way around his parents, and yet another around his siblings or other family members. Richmond calls these different aspects of personality "ego states."

There are also those characteristics of identity that one is born with, such as mental and physical features, as well as those that could come at any given time. Such as in “On Being A Cripple” by Nancy Mairs, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 28, after that her whole life changed and she identified herself as disabled. There are many different circumstances that can affect a person’s identity but the important part is getting there, a person will know they’ve reached their full identity once they begin to feel good about themselves, forgetting about what others say about them. Every person has family identities, these are the biological factors of oneself. It could include, eye color, skin color, hair color, height, certain facial characteristics, gender and behavior.

An individual’s opinion of who and what they helps them form and develop their own individuality. It is established through the individual’s behaviour and attitude. It relates to how they view themselves and is associated with their own self-image, body image and self-esteem. Murphy (as cited by Gross, 2001) stated the self is part of the individual which is understood and know to by the individual them self. A person’s physical appearance is the first thing that is seen when they are in contact with others. If the individual feels positive and confident within themselves then this will influence the development of a strong and healthy life. This can also influence how they experience life allowing them to develop in a positive, healthy way and enabling them to build up strong relationships with others. Self concept can be based upon one’s own expectations and goals which they hold

When we communicate we influence how others view us and we create an impression, when we receive opinions from others especially our significant other it influences how we feel about ourselves and helps create our self-concept. The reaction of others, your comparison with others, the social roles you play, and the groups of people you identify with all contribute to the development of your self-concept. According to Bevan and Sole part of the way you construct your self-concept is by choosing to accept or reject what other people tell you about yourself. Your self-concept is influenced by the people you surround yourself with and by what they tell you, to keep a positive self-concept it is helpful to surround yourself with someone who is positive and who speaks highly of you. You both must lift each other up and help each other to feel great about yourselves. “To grow and learn about yourself, you must be open-minded about other people 's opinions,” (Bevan and Sole 2014). Your opinions of each other mean a great deal to how you both feel about your selves and how you perceive yourselves. Your self-concept is how you feel about yourself but if you are told everyday of your life that you are ugly you will eventually think that you are a bit ugly, but if you are told you are beautiful you will think you are beautiful. Don’t ever put each other down even if it is unintentionally, always think before you speak! You can criticize or tell one another your thoughts and opinions

One's self-concept affects one's perception, attitude and behavior, which can be demonstrated during the process of interpersonal communication. Aspects of one's life influence their self-concept, which not only affect how people perceive them but how they perceive themselves. Such things are gender, motivational level and psychological type. It is widely

     Two things can happen when we are required to base our definition of “self” on others.  One can take others’ ways of living and thinking, process them, and formulate his or her own definition, independent of anyone else.  Or, one can use the relationships he or she has with other people on which to base their own definition of self, thus making him or her dependent on those other people.  As young people, we learn and take in all we can through the world, our experiences, and relationships with other people.  From there, we grow and establish our own identities, our own “selves”, in response to those interactions with others.  This definition is continually growing and progressing as we evolve as people, interacting with different people in different environments and

Have you ever thought about why we feel about ourselves the way we do? Do you hate yourself or are you confident about who you are? Either way you feel about yourself, this all comes from your self-concept. According to Steven McCornack’s Reflect and Relate “self-concept is your overall perception of who you are.” My self-concept is constantly changing due to confidence boosts or if I become depressed and sad; these factors also influence my self-esteem. My self-concept helps determine how well I am able to communicate with others. “Some psychologists and sociologist have advanced theories that suggest we learn who we are through four basic meaning: our communication with other individuals, our association with groups, roles we assume, and our self-labels” (Beebe 35).

This study examines the view that self-awareness gradually develops with a shift from physical to psychological characteristics whilst the locus of self-knowledge progressively transfers from others to the self. Previous research implementing semi-structured self concept interviews to investigate self descriptions amongst young children of various age groups supported these findings, underpinning the theories of a gradual emergence and elaboration of the self as a subject and the self as an object of knowledge. In the current study, a comparison

When introducing the concept of self-consciousness, it can be very difficult for individuals to understand that there are many forms of self-consciousness. Many already have a definition in mind as soon as they hear the word self-consciousness. It is made up of many concepts because it isn’t just a cognitive state, rather, many cognitive states. The mind processes many things as opposed to just knowing things. Humans are capable of doing and desiring many things while self-evaluating and questioning oneself. Everyone is able to consider their own actions and to think about themselves. When thinking, humans are able to consider ideas and depictions regarding the self and others. Regarding oneself allows for evaluating self-worth in refinement to common social roles (Bermudez).

In effect, children “see” themselves when they interact with other people, as if they are looking in a mirror. Individuals use the perceptions that others have of them to develop judgments and feelings about themselves.