Self-Concept

Self-concept refers to an individual’s perception and evaluation of themselves. It involves the beliefs, thoughts, and feelings that a person has about their own identity, abilities, and characteristics. For instance, if you believe that you are a very lucky person, you will unconsciously seek out evidence to confirm this belief, often referred to as confirmation bias.

Self-concept is a multifaceted construct that includes various aspects, such as:

1. Self-identity: The awareness and recognition of one’s unique qualities, including physical attributes, personality traits, and roles in society.
2. Self-esteem: The overall evaluation of one’s worth and the extent to which one feels confident, capable, and deserving of respect.
3. Self-awareness: The ability to recognize and understand one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, as well as the impact of these on oneself and others.
4. Self-image: The mental representation of how an individual perceives their appearance, abilities, and qualities.
5. Self-efficacy: Belief in one’s ability to accomplish specific tasks and achieve goals.

Carl Rogers, a humanist psychologist, believes that one’s self-concept is made of three parts:

1. The ideal self: The ideal self is the person you want to be. It is the qualities and attributes that you possess and how you envision the ideal you to be.
2. Self-image: This refers to how to perceive yourself, your personality traits, and the roles that you play in society.
3. Self-esteem: This refers to how much you value and accept yourself, especially with other people.

One’s self-concept develops through our interaction with other people – family, friends, and co-workers. The media also plays a crucial role in developing our self-concept as we shift, change, and adapt to societal norms. Since our environment plays a crucial role, self-concept is not fixed and can evolve based on experiences, feedback, and personal growth. The collective self (self about society) and the relational self (how we perceive ourselves) play a crucial role in shaping behavior, decision-making, and interpersonal relationships.