What is self-concept?
Self-concept is a relatively stable and organized collection of thoughts and feelings about the
self, which lead to attitudes and drive behavior.
Self-concept begins to form at six or seven months of age, when children see themselves as
separate and different from others.
Two related ideas: Self-esteem and self-efficacy
Self-esteem is how we perceive our overall sense of worth or value
Self-efficiency is how we perceive ability to accomplish something or to make a difference
Four faces of self-concept
Self-image—how we see ourselves
Looking-glass self—how we think others see us
Ideal self—how we would like to be
Real self—how we actually are
When these four faces reveal different pictures of self, they cause problems
Self-image—how we see ourselves
Writing our life scripts: the role of inner voice
The inner voice is important for:
Developing storylines to guide us through life, complete with characters, plots, settings, and
action
Getting ideas from first-hand and second-hand experiences and memories
Identifying on a psychic level with settings and places
Understanding that life scripts can be positive or negative in their unfolding
Validating our life scripts by comparing ourselves to others
We can look upward or downward for role models
We can experience assimilation effects (greater self-esteem and self-efficacy when we see
ourselves as able to achieve ideal)
We can experience contrast effects (lower feelings of self-esteem and self-efficacy when we
see ourselves as unable to achieve ideal)
Revising our life scripts
We need to focus on
Recognizing when our scripts have become outdated
Letting go of negative scripts
Taking advantage of periods of role transition to revise scripts
Avoiding the negative storylines that can develop with changes in health or aging
Looking-glass self—how we think others see us
Views of self are influenced by how we think others see us, including significant others, who
may or may not see us in this way.
Significant others are people whose opinions matter to us
How expectations of others influence expectations of self
Self-fulfilling prophecy refers to way by which expectations of others can influence
expectations of self
We live up—or down—to these expectations
Parents, other family members, and friends
Peers
Teachers
Coaches
Caregivers and health care providers
Managers
How expectations of parents influence expectations of self
First-born children receive different messages from their parents; as a result, they tend to
outstrip later-born children when it comes to achievements.
Children also place a great deal of weight on the opinions of peers, who influence how they
see their physical, academic, and social abilities.
Children with low self-esteem experience more failures in relationships as they age.
How expectations of teachers, coaches, and care providers influence expectations of self
In classrooms, the expectations of teachers affect student performance.
In sports, the expectations of coaches influence the performance of athletes.
In health care settings, the messages of caregivers and health care providers have an impact
on the well-being of those with health and mobility challenges.
How expectations of managers influence expectations of self
Classical studies show that the expectations of managers have a large impact on employee
performance.
Compared to men, women pass up more advanced job opportunities, anticipate more
problems, and experience greater fear of failure—all of which can lead supervisors to expect
less and undervalue their performance.
The ideal self: the role of the media
The media as a source of social comparisons
Many people turn to the media (books, magazines, TV) for role models with whom to
compare themselves.
These comparisons are often unfavorable for the average person, since the media
perpetuate a myth of perfection.
The myth of perfection says that it is both possible and desirable to achieve perfection.
Trends in media consumption
Children consume an average of 6.5 hours of media content each day.
Media rank second only to parents and peers as information sources for teenage girls.
Social media trends set new records for media consumption.
What are the messages?
Physical attractiveness is important.
To be physically attractive, you must be thin. Thin is beautiful.
To be physically attractive, you must be young. Young is beautiful.
How do the media convey these messages?
The women who populate television, films, magazines, and music videos reflect an obsession
with thinness.
Beauty contestants have become taller and thinner at the same time that their bust and hip sizes
have decreased.
Journalists and commentators praise celebrities who are thin and poke fun at those who do not
reflect the ‘look’.
What is the impact of media images on perceptions of self?
Repeated exposure to unrealistic media images often results in a three-step process
1. We tend to overestimate the weight of the media personalities and underestimate our
own weight.
2. These unfavorable comparisons lead to body image disturbance or dissatisfaction,
3. Body image disturbance leads to lower self-esteem and sometimes obsessive dieting
and eating disorders.
Who is at risk?
Almost everyone, but especially:
Those who are already dissatisfied with their bodies
Those who already have easing disorders
Pregnant women
Those influenced by peer pressure—e.g. Young females and teenagers, including a growing
number of young males
Some middle-aged and other women
What are the facts?
Results of recent studies
Only one-third of adolescent girls choose ideal bodies that match their own.
Two-thirds of young women are unhappy with their bodies.
One-third of young men experience body dissatisfaction; they worry more about muscle
bulk than weight.
One-quarter of female readers of Psychology Today would give up three years of their life to
be their ideal weight.
Almost 46 percent of high school students said they were trying to lose weight.
Eating disorders accounted for more than 52—hospitalizations in Canada between 2009 and
2010.
The term pregorexia refers to the growing number of pregnant women who expect to
remain slim and fit while pregnant.
Cross-cultural variations in views of self
Differences between people in other countries and North Americans
Differences between mainstream and minority cultures in North America
Differences in extent to which media influence other cultural groups
Cross-cultural challenges in measuring self-concept
Need to move away from focus on individualism and instrumental behaviors.
Need to attach stronger value to collective and relationship-oriented qualities.
Need to take cultural biases into account (e.g., tendency of Japanese to downplay individual
accomplishments).
Need to take self-serving biases of Westerners into account.
Tips for moving accepting and moving beyond self
Whenever you (or someone else) question one part of your identity think of some of your
other identities.
If you are operating from a negative script, rewrite it.
Check to see if your actions suggest low self-esteem.
Set realistic goals for yourself.
Engage in positive self-talk if some aspects of your self-concept appear to be threatened.
IF your ego is too ‘noisy’, aim for balance in self-concept.
Celebrate and learn from differences.
Believe in positive outcomes.
1. F
Self-concept is a relatively stable set of perceptions you hold of yourself
2. B
Looking-glass self refers to how we think others see us
3. T
When we choose unrealistic groups for social comparison, our self-esteem suffers and we
feel inadequate
4. F
Collectivist cultures like North America tend to value individualism and independence
