Self-concept: What Is It And How Is It Formed?
It is normal that a large number of variables come into play when evaluating self-concept. In many cases, these variables will be conditioned or influenced by our surroundings and our relationship with our surroundings.
Next, we define what we refer to when we talk about self-concept and how it develops.
Difference between self-concept and self-esteem
Self-concept is defined as the opinion one has about oneself. It is a set of ideas and beliefs that allow us to form an image of ourselves in front of others. It is, essentially, our uniqueness as individuals.
However, when we talk about self-esteem we refer to this component of emotions that we add to such an image so that it takes on personality. It is a concept that is even subjective. This personality can be negative or positive.
The self-concept as a theory
There are those who divide this perception into two groups:
- personal identity
- social identity
On a personal level, variables such as personal characteristics and other characteristics that make us unique come into play .
On the other hand, the social environment is altered or modified by the environment we share with others.
For example, the religion we profess, the community where we live, the institution where we study, our family. Yet it is also modified in time by our life experience.
example of self-concept
It’s amazing how many people create a concept of themselves based on distortions. For example, people who have suffered from anorexia have a distorted image of themselves in the mirror, a different image from what other people see.
That’s why they stick to diets and don’t recognize they have a disorder. This is a clear example of how the social and advertising media can influence the image we have of ourselves.
But there are also positive examples. The person who values himself builds goals and directs his efforts towards that achievement, maintaining a positive attitude: Yes, I can achieve this!
Furthermore, she is willing to influence her surroundings with that same attitude. This person will make your ideas count wherever you are. Your self-concept gives you tangible benefits.
self-concept formation
Self-concept is not just an egocentric view of ourselves. It is not something static either, after all, the social factor also determines it.
Therefore, to form the self-concept, it is important that the person takes these points into account:
- Give your life meaning.
- Develop your skills and firmly believe in them.
- Don’t close yourself off to new experiences. Be a person willing to change.
- Be upbeat and keep a good attitude.
- Set short-term and long-term goals in your life.
- Be a productive individual.
- Keep an eye out to offer solutions to different problems.
6 characteristics of self-concept
- Organization. The person, to reduce the levels of complexity of one or several situations, associates them to a category.
- Multifaceted. Being able to pay attention to various activities in your surroundings, while setting priorities to meet them.
- Organized. It establishes a base or starting point and, from there, acts and has the power to vary in time according to the hierarchical position it establishes.
- Experimental. It is nourished by experiences to form its self-concept, which, at a given moment, may seem somewhat global or encompass many things, but which, in turn, has differentiating characteristics.
- Evaluative. It allows itself to be evaluated based on other concepts or ideas that arise in its surroundings or in its learning.
- Distinguishable. From an idea or concept, you can manage variables that you should consider, but keeping your value judgments.
4 functions of self-concept
As we have seen, the self-concept is formed by the individual himself from the idea that others have of him, and it benefits him in the following ways:
- Allows you to relate with other individuals and with the environment that surrounds you.
- It meets the basic needs that create your personality.
- It conditions your conduct.
- Increases social competence among individuals.
Finally, the goal is to get to know yourself and others so that these experiences are constructive and the person feels the satisfaction of being a complete individual.
In turn, the person must be willing to adjust opinions and concepts in a coherent way in order to have an identity of their own.
