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What is Self-Concept Theory? A Psychologist Explains.

  Courtney E. Ackerman, MSc.
  18

Who are you? What makes you “you?”

You might answer with “I’m a mother,” or, “I’m a therapist,” or maybe, “I’m a
believer,” “I’m a good friend,” “I’m a brother.”

Maybe you answer with, “I am excellent at my job,” “I’m an accomplished musician,”

or “I’m a successful athlete.”

Other responses might fall into the category of traits: “I’m a kind-hearted person,”
“I’m intelligent and hard-working,” or “I’m laid-back and easy-going.”

These responses come from your internal sense of who you are. This sense is
developed early in life, but it goes through constant evaluation and adjustment
throughout the lifespan.

In psychology, this sense of self has a specific term: self-concept.

This article contains:

 What is Self-Concept? A Definition
 Self-Concept Theory
 The Components and Elements of the Self-Concept Model
 The Development Stages of Self-Concept
 10 Examples of Self-Concept
 Research on Self-Concept
 Measuring Self-Concept with Scales, Tests, and Inventories
 Self-Concept Activities and Lesson Plans for Preschoolers and
Older Students (PDF)
 Self-Concept Worksheets (PDF)
 8 Quotes on Self-Concept
 Take-Home Message
 References
What is Self-Concept? A Definition
Self-concept is an overarching idea we have about who we are—physically,
emotionally, socially, spiritually, and in terms of any other aspects that make up who
we are (Neill, 2005). We form and regulate our self-concept as we grow, based on the
knowledge we have about ourselves. It is multidimensional, and can be broken down
into these individual aspects.

For example, you may have a very different idea of who you are in terms of your
physical body, and who you are in terms of your spirit or soul.

The influential self-efficacy researcher Roy Baumeister (1999) defines self-concept as

follows:

“The individual’s belief about himself or herself, including the person’s attributes
and who and what the self is.”

A similar definition comes from Rosenberg’s 1979 book on the topic; he says self-
concept is:

“…the totality of an individual’s thoughts and feelings having reference to himself as

an object.”

Self-concept is related to several other “self” constructs, such as self-esteem, self-

image, self-efficacy, and self-awareness. In the following section, we will explain
these slight—yet important—differences.

Self-Concept vs. Self-Esteem

Self-concept is not self-esteem, although self-esteem may be a part of self-concept.
Self-concept is the perception that we have of ourselves, our answer when we ask
ourselves the question “Who am I?”

It is knowing about one’s own tendencies, thoughts, preferences and habits, hobbies,
skills, and areas of weakness. According to Carl Rogers, founder of client-centered
therapy, self-concept is an overarching construct that self-esteem is one of the
components of it (McLeod, 2008).

Self-Concept vs. Self-Image

Self-image is related to self-concept but is less broad. Self-image is how an individual

sees themselves, and it does not have to align with reality.

A person’s self-image is based on how they see themselves, while self-concept is a

more comprehensive evaluation of the self, largely based on how a person sees
themselves, values themselves, thinks about themselves, and feels about themselves.

Carl Rogers posited that self-image is a component of self-concept, along with self-
esteem or self-worth and one’s “ideal self” (McLeod, 2008).

Self-Concept vs. Self-Efficacy

Self-concept is a more complex construct than self-efficacy. While self-efficacy refers

to an individual’s judgments of their own abilities, self-concept is more general and
includes both cognitive (thoughts about) and affective (feelings about) judgments
about oneself (Bong & Clark, 1999).

Self-Concept vs. Self-Awareness

Self-awareness also influences self-concept. It is the quality or trait that involves

conscious awareness of one’s own thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and traits (Cherry,
2018A). To have a fully developed self-concept (and one that is based in reality), a
person must have at least some level of self-awareness.

We explore this further in The Science of Self-Acceptance Masterclass©. 

 

Self-Concept Theory

There are many theories about what exactly

self-concept is and how it develops. Generally, theorists agree on the following points:

 On the broadest level, self-concept is the overall idea we have about who we
are and includes cognitive and affective judgments about ourselves;

 Self-concept is multi-dimensional, incorporating our views of ourselves in

terms of several different aspects (e.g., social, religious, spiritual, physical,
emotional);

 It is learned, not inherent;

 It is influenced by biological and environmental factors, but social interaction

plays a big role as well;

 Self-concept develops through childhood and early adulthood when it is more

easily changed or updated;

 It can be changed in later years, but it is more of an uphill battle since people
have established ideas about who they are;

 Self-concept does not always align with reality. When it does, our self-concept
is “congruent.” When it doesn’t, our self-concept is “incongruent.” (Cherry,
2018B; Gecas, 1982).

Identity and Self-Concept Theory in Psychology vs. Self-Concept in

Sociology
Both psychology and sociology share an interest in self-concept, but they use slightly
different ways to explore it. Individual researchers vary, of course, but generally, the
divide can be thought of in these terms:

 Sociology/social psychology focuses on how self-concept develops,

specifically within the context of the individual’s social environment.
 Psychology focuses on how self-concept impacts people (Gecas, 1982).

There are other differences between the two, including psychology’s general focus on
the individual versus sociology’s focus on the group, community, or society; however,
this difference in focus has led to two diverse research streams. Both have resulted in
great insights and interesting findings, and they sometimes overlap, but this divide can
still be seen in the literature today.

Carl Rogers and the Self-Concept Theory of Personality

Famed psychologist, theorist, and clinician Carl Rogers posited a theory of how self-
concept influences and, indeed, acts as the framework for, one’s personality.

The image we have of who we are contributes to our personality, and our actions—
combined with our personality —create a feedback loop into our image of ourselves.
Rogers believed that our personality is driven by our desire for self-actualization.
This is the condition that emerges when we reach our full potential and our self-
concept, self-worth, and ideal self all overlap (Journal Psyche Authors, n.d.).

How we develop our personalities and self-concepts varies, thus creating the unique
individuals we are. According to Rogers, we always strive for self-actualization, some
with more success than others.

How do people go about striving for self-actualization and congruence? This relates to
the idea of how anyone “maintains” their idea of themselves. We explore that next.

Self-Concept Maintenance Theory

Self-concept maintenance refers to how people maintain or enhance their sense of
self. It is relatively fixed after a person reaches adulthood, but it can—and does—
change based on the person’s experiences.

The theory of self-concept maintenance states that we do not simply sit and wait for
our self-concept to develop: we take an active role in shaping our self-concept at all
ages (whether we are aware of this or not).

Although there are different theories about the processes of self-concept maintenance,
it generally concerns:

1. Our evaluations of ourselves

2. Our comparison of our actual selves with our ideal selves
3. Our actions taken to move closer to our ideal selves (Munoz, 2012).

This may seem like a pretty logical and straightforward process, but we tend to give
ourselves room for moral ambiguity. For example, a study by Mazar, Amir, and
Ariely (2007) showed that people will generally engage in beneficial dishonesty when
given the opportunity. However, these same people might not revise their self-concept
to incorporate this dishonesty.

When participants in the study were prompted to be more aware of their internal
standards for honesty, they were less likely to engage in beneficial dishonesty; on the
other hand, when given a “degrees of freedom” (greater separation between their
actions and the rewards they would receive for dishonesty), they were more likely to
engage in dishonesty—with no impact to their self-concept.

This is one example of the work on self-concept maintenance, as humans constantly

assess themselves and their moral code since it influences their identity and actions.
 

Self-concept Clarity and Self-concept Differentiation

Self-concept clarity is different from self-concept.

Self-concept clarity (SCC) refers to how clear, confident, and consistent an

individual’s definitions of themselves are (Diehl & Hay, 2011). Self-concept
differentiation (SCD) refers to how an individual’s self-representation may vary
across contexts or social roles (e.g., self as a spouse, self as a parent, self as a student).

SCC and SCD are hot topics in psychology since they influence thought patterns and
behavior.

Higher SCC indicates a firmer and more stable self-concept, while low SCC indicates
that an individual is unclear or vague about who they really are. Those with low SCC
may struggle with low self-esteem, self-consciousness, and neuroticism.

SCD is not as clear-cut. Having a high SCD may be viewed as a bad thing, but it can
also be an effective coping mechanism for succeeding in the modern world where
individuals have many different roles. If SCD is very high, it might mean that the
individual does not have a stable self-concept and “wears a different mask” for each
of their roles.

A very low level of SCD may indicate that the individual is authentically “them”
across all of their roles—although it may also indicate that he cannot effectively
switch from one role to another (Diehl & Hay, 2011).

Essentially, people who differentiate their roles slightly, yet maintain a clear image of
themselves, may succeed most at finding balance in their identity and image.

The Components and Elements of the Self-Concept Model

There are different ideas about what self-concept consists of, and how it should be
defined; however, there are some characteristics and dimensions that apply to the
basic, agreed-upon conceptualization of self-concept.

Characteristics of Self-Concept

As a brief review, self-concept is the perspective we have on who we are. Each of us
has a unique self-concept, different from the self-concept of others and from their
concept of us.

However, there are some characteristics that all of our self-concepts have in common.

Self-concept:

1. Displays uniquely with each person.

2. Vary from very positive to very negative.
3. Carries emotional, intellectual, and functional dimensions.
4. Changes with the context.
5. Changes over time.
6. Influence the individual’s life (Delmar Learning, n.d.)

Dimensions of Self-Concept

Different dimensions may constitute different kinds of self-concept; for example, the
dimensions that create “academic self-efficacy” will not have as much overlap with
“social self-efficacy.”

There are some overarching dimensions that researchers understand with the self-
concept puzzle. These dimensions include:

 Self-esteem
 Self-worth
 Self-image (physical)
 Ideal self
 Identities or roles (social)
 Personal traits and qualities (Elliot, 1984; Gecas, 1982)

 
The Development Stages of Self-Concept

Self-concept develops and changes throughout the lifespan, but it is most in flux
during the early years. Early childhood is a ripe time for young humans to perceive
themselves in the world.

The Formation of Self-Concept During Early Childhood

There are three general stages of self-concept development during early childhood:

1. Stage 1: 0 to 2 years-old

a. Babies need consistent, loving relationships to develop a positive sense of self.
b. Babies form preferences that align with their innate sense of self.
c. Toddlers feel secure with gentle but firm limits
d. At age two, language skill develops and toddlers have a sense of “me.”
2. Stage 2: 3 to 4 years-old
a. Three and four-year-olds begin to see themselves as separate and unique
individuals.
b. Their self-images tend to be descriptive rather than prescriptive or judgmental.
c. Preschoolers are increasingly independent and curious about what they can do.
3. Stage 3: 5 to 6 years-old
a. They are transitioning from the “me” stage to the “us” stage, where they are
more aware of the needs and interests of the larger group.
b. Kindergarteners can use their words to communicate their wants, needs, and
feelings.
c. Five and six-year-olds can use even more advanced language to help define
themselves within the context of the group (Miller, Church, & Poole, n.d.).

 
Self-Concept in Middle Childhood

During middle childhood (about 7 to 11 years old), children are beginning to develop
a sense of their social selves and figuring out how they fit in with everyone else. They
reference social groups and make social comparisons more often, and begin to think
about how others see them.

Other characteristics of their self-concept at this stage include:

 More balanced, less all-or-none descriptions

 Development of the ideal and real self
 Descriptions of the self by competencies instead of specific behaviors
 Development of a personal sense of self (Berk, 2004)

Culture begins to play a big role at this stage, but we’ll talk more about that later.

The Development of Self-Concept in Adolescence

Adolescence is where the development of one’s self-concept really explodes.

This is the stage in which individuals (about age 12-18) play with their sense of self,
including a time when they experiment with their identity, compare themselves with
others, and develop the basis of a self-concept that may stay with them the rest of their
life.

During this period, adolescents are prone to greater self-consciousness and

susceptibility to the influence of their peers and chemical changes happening in the
brain (Sebastian, Burnett, & Blakemore, 2008).
They enjoy greater freedom and independence, engage in increasingly competitive
activities, compare themselves with their peers, and can value (even over-value) the
perspective of others (Manning, 2007).

In adolescence, there are two important factors that influence self-concept and self-
worth:

1. Success in areas in which the adolescent desires success

2. Approval from significant people in the adolescent’s life (Manning, 2007).

When students have a healthy sense of self-worth and self-esteem, they contribute to a
greater self-concept.

10 Examples of Self-Concept
You may have a good handle on what self-concept is but these examples can help
explain it more.

Self-concepts are rarely all positive or all negative; someone may have both positive
and some negative self-concepts in different domains (e.g., a husband who thinks of
himself as a good father but sees his physical self as out-of-shape and unhealthy or a
student who think so themselves as a great athlete who struggles academically).

Some examples of positive self-concepts include:

 A person sees herself as an intelligent person;

 A man perceives himself as an important member of his community;
 A woman sees herself as an excellent spouse and friend;
 A person thinks of himself as a nurturing and caring person;
 A person views herself as a hard-working and competent employee.

On the flip side, these people could have negative self-concepts like:

 A person sees herself as stupid and slow;

 A man perceives himself as expendable and a burden on his community;
 A woman sees herself as a terrible spouse and friend;
 A person thinks of himself as a cold and unapproachable person;
 A person views herself as a lazy and incompetent employee.
We all have many of these mini or domain-specific self-concepts that encompass our
self-concept. Some may be more positive or negative than others, and each is an
important piece of what makes us who we are.

Research on Self-Concept
Given the marked interest in this topic within sociology and psychology, there is quite
a bit of research out there on the subject. Here are a few of the most interesting and
impactful findings on self-concept.

Self-Concept in Marketing and How it Influences Consumer

Behavior

It probably won’t shock you that the idea of self-concept has made its way into
marketing—after all, brands and companies can profit from targeting certain desirable
identities. In fact, it is the basis of fashion and consumerism.

Our self-concept influences our wants and needs, and can also shape our behavior.
Whether it is true or not, we tend to believe that our purchases will help establish our
identity. There is a reason why people buy certain clothing, cars, etc.

And this idea has a name: self-concept attachment.

Self-Concept Attachment

Self-concept attachment refers to the attachment we form to a product as it influences

identity. For example, someone who loves their Patagonia jacket may also consider it
as a status symbol that also represents their “outdoorsy” side.

Thus, this jacket has a strong self-concept attachment, in addition to its purpose of
providing warmth.

Surprisingly, consumers become more attached to a brand when the brands match
their “actual selves” rather than their ideal selves (Malär, Krohmer, Hoyer, &
Nyffenegger, 2011). We tend to identify more with brands that “meet us where we
are” rather than trying to connect with our higher, ideal selves.
Companies understand this and work to (1) get to know their target consumers better,
and (2) mold their brand identity to match the self-concept of their consumers. The
more they can get consumers to identify with their brand, the more they will buy that
brand.

How Does Self-Concept Affect Interpersonal Communication?

Think about a cycle in which we develop, maintain, and revise our self-concept: we
have an idea of who we are, and we act in accordance with that self-concept.
Consequently, others form an idea about who we are, and they react in accordance
with their idea of who we are, thus impacting our idea of who we are.

This feedback loop continues to shape us, and interpersonal communication plays a
big role here.

Our self-concept drives our motivations, methods, and experiences with

communicating with others. For example, if you see yourself as someone who is
always right (or who must always be right), you may struggle in communicating with
others when disagreements arise. If that need is accompanied by an acceptance of
aggression, you may use hostility, assertiveness, and argumentativeness to attack the
self-concepts of the people you are debating instead of discussing their positions
(Infante & Wigley, 1986).

Communication on social media is also a determinant and an outcome of an

individual’s self-concept.

Sponcil and Gitimu (2012) suggested that, in general, the more friends an individual
has on social networking sites, the more positively they feel about themselves as a
whole. Conversely, the anxiety of social media and maintaining one’s image poses
separate issues.

Self-Concept and Academic Achievement

Self-concept and academic achievement is also a positive feedback loop, as actions

beget similar actions and identity to match.

In a longitudinal study, Marsh (1990) found that students with more positive academic
self-concept achieved greater academic success the following year. Later studies
confirmed the relationship between the two but indicated that achievement affects
self-concept more than self-concept inherently influences achievement success
(Muijs, 2011).

Research by Byrne (1986) offered instead that self-concept and academic self-concept
can be considered two separate constructs; academic achievement may impact one’s
overall self-concept, but it is most directly related to academic self-concept.

Self-Concept and Career Development

Self-concept develops throughout the lifespan and during any career.

According to researcher Donald Super, there are five life and career development
stages:

1. Growth (Ages 0 to 14)

2. Exploration (Ages 15 to 24)
3. Establishment (Age 25 to 44)
4. Maintenance (Age 45 to 64)
5. Decline (Age 65+)

The first stage is marked by the development of one’s basic self-concept. In the
second stage, able individuals experiment and try out new classes, experiences, and
jobs. Stage 3 sees individuals establishing their career and building their skills, likely
starting in an entry-level position.

In the fourth stage, individuals engage in a continuous management and adjustment

process to both their self-concept and their career. Finally, the fifth stage is
characterized by reduced output and preparations for retirement, activities which can
have a huge impact on one’s self-concept (Super, Starishevsky, Matlin, & Jordaan,
1963).

Of course, this model assumes equal access and privilege upon entering the
workforce, which is not truthful to reality. Not all humans, for example, have the
opportunity to explore and establish themselves as easily as others.

Nevertheless, Super posited that self-concept drives career development and can act as
a general framework and inspiration for future research in this area, including a social
and racial unearthing of Rogers’ theory on self-actualization.
The research could also be conducted on Bandura’s work on self-efficacy, on role
salience, and on the idea of multiple identities in career development (Betz, 1994).

Culture and Self-Concept

Unsurprisingly, culture can have a big impact on self-concept. For example, how
children are treated in early childhood influences how their sense of self develops.

Many parents might be more concerned with emotions and satisfying the wants of
their children, while others may be more firm and controlling of their child’s
behavior, worrying about their needs rather than fulfilling their desires. This is a
generalization, but one that holds under scrutiny: culture influence self-concept.

Research suggests that those from more collectivist cultures produced more group
self-descriptions and fewer idiocentric self-descriptions than those from
individualistic cultures (Bochner, 1994).

Further research also indicated that East Asian cultures are more accepting of
contradictory beliefs about the self; this indicates that one’s self-concept in these
cultures may be more flexible than, say, American culture (Choi & Choi, 2002).

Findings like these are fascinating, but they also reveal how and why it is difficult to
measure self-concept. The next section summarizes those attempts.

Measuring Self-Concept with Scales, Tests, and Inventories

 Self-report bias makes measuring self-
concept difficult. One’s self-concept does not always align with “reality” or with how
others view a person. However, there are still some tools that can measure self-
concept.

If you are interested in using a self-concept measure for research purposes, look first
at the development of the instrument, the definition it is based on, and the dimensions
or components it measures. It’s important that you choose a tool that aligns with the
idea of self-concept that your research uses.

Some of the most prominent tools to measure self-concept include:

 The Robson Self-Concept Questionnaire (SCQ; Robson, 1989)

 The Social Self-Concept Questionnaire (SSC; Fernández-Zabala, Rodríguez-
Fernández, & Goñi, 2016)
 The Academic Self-Concept Questionnaire (ASCQ; Liu & Wang, 2005)

Self-Concept Questionnaire by Dr. Saraswat

The Self-Concept Questionnaire from Dr. Saraswat (1984) has become a popular
choice for measuring self-concept. It consists of 48 items measuring self-concept
across six dimensions:

 Physical;
 Social;
 Temperamental;
 Educational;
 Moral;
 Intellectual.

For each item, the respondent rates how well each item describes their ideas about
themselves on a 5-point scale. Higher scores indicate high self-concept, while low
scores indicate low self-concept.

This questionnaire is generally thought of as reliable by researchers, but it is dated.

Self-Concept Activities and Lesson Plans for Preschoolers

and Older Students (PDF)
If you’re looking for a great resource with 10 simple but effective activities for
cultivating self-concept in young children, Glori Chaika’s article “Ten Activities to
Improve Students’ Self-Concepts” can be adapted to fit the context for several age
ranges.

We summarize the 10 activities she suggests here:

1 – The Interview

This activity is great for the beginning of the year as students to get to know their
peers.

Break the group into pairs, and make sure each student is paired with someone they
don’t very well. Give them 10 minutes to interview each other (5 minutes per
interview) with fun questions like “would you rather live on a boat or on an island?”
or “what is your favorite subject at this school?”.

When all of the interviews have been completed, have each pair come to the front of
the class and introduce their partner to the other children.

2 – The Journal
Journals can be beneficial in many ways, as keeping a journal allows you to self-
examine. Help your students develop their sense of self by assigning journal entries
that they keep in one notebook all year.

Tell your students that they can put whatever they want in their journal—they can
write a poem, describe a dream they had, write about what they hope for, something
they are happy about, something they are sad about, etc.—and that they must make at
least three entries (or however many you decide is appropriate) per week.

Make sure to tell them that you will only read the entry if they give you permission,
but that you will check to ensure they have at least three dated entries per week.

3 – Designing Self-Collages

Self-collages are a great activity from young children to high-schoolers. Tell the
students they need to create a collage that represents who they are by using pictures,
words, and/or symbols. They can cut things from magazines, print them out from the
internet, or draw pictures themselves.

You may want to guide them by suggesting to focus on things they enjoy or are good
at, places they’ve been or would like to go, and people they admire.

When everyone’s collage is complete, you can do an extra activity where students
present their collage to the classroom, or maybe everyone tries to guess which collage
belongs to which student.

4 – Ranking Traits

This activity is best for older students with writing skills. Have the students rip a piece
of paper into ten strips and write a word or phrase on each strip that they feel
describes them. Tell them that no one will see the things they write down, so they can
be completely honest.

Once the students have written down their ten traits, have them arrange them in order
from those they most like about themselves to those they least like about themselves.

Encourage them to reflect on their traits by asking questions like:

 Do you like what you see?
 Do you want to keep it?
 Now give up one trait. How does the lack of that affect you?
 Now give up another. Give up three. Now what kind of person are you?

After the students have reduced their traits to six, have them add the traits back, one
by one. For an extra boost to this activity, you can have the students journal about
their experience at the end, and how they want to use their strengths.

5 – Accentuate the Positive

Accentuating the positive is all about noticing and sharing the positive things about
others (and themselves).

To try this activity, break the students up into groups of four to six. Instruct the groups
to pick one person (to start with) and tell that person all the positive things about
them. Encourage the students to focus on traits and skills that can be altered (e.g.,
work ethic, skill in soccer), rather than permanent features (e.g., eyes, skin).

One student in each group will act as a recorder, writing down all the positive things
that are said about someone. Each member of the group takes a turn, and the recorder
gives the individual the list of all the positive things said about them at the end of the
activity.

This exercise can also make a great focus for a journal entry.

6 – Thumbprints

This activity requires an ink pad and the willingness to get a bit messy!

Have each of your students place his or her thumb on the inkpad and then on a piece
of paper to get a thumbprint. Show them the five major fingerprint patterns and have
them identify their print type. Explain how fingerprints are unique—both across their
own fingers and from person to person.

Next, have each student create an animal out of their thumbprint. Bonus points if the
animal is one the student feels represents him or her! Encourage them to write about
this in their journal, or to add the thumbprint drawing to their journal.
 

7 – Create a “Me” Commercial

This activity can be especially fun for the drama-loving students. Tell them that they
are each going to make a two or three-minute commercial on why you should hire
them.

The commercial should focus on their special skills, talents, and positive qualities. It
should highlight what is great about them and what they would bring to the fictional
position they are auditioning for.

Give the students some time to write their commercial, then have them present their
commercials to the class. An alternative method for this activity is to have small
groups create commercials for each group member.

8 – Shared Learning

This is a simple activity if you’ve been having your students write in their journal for
the whole term.

Tell the students to look through their journal entries and reflect. Have them choose
one thing they have learned about themselves during this term.

When each student has chosen something they would like to share, sit in a circle and
have each student share out on what they learned over the past three months (or four
months, or six months, etc.).

9 – Write Yourself a Letter

This is another activity that is appropriate for older children since it requires
somewhat advanced writing skills.

Tell the students that they will be writing a letter to themselves, and to be totally
honest since no one else will be able to read it. They can write whatever they’d like in
this letter to their future selves, but they may want to add in things that describe them
today (e.g., height and weight, current friends, favorite music and movies, special
things that happened to them this year).
On another piece of paper or on the back of this letter, tell students to write down ten
goals they would like to accomplish by this time next year. Have your students seal
the letter and their goals in an envelope, address the envelope to themselves, and give
it to you. In one year, mail the letters out to the students.

This is a far-reaching activity that will encourage your students to think about how
they change over time, and how they stay the same.

10 – Drawing Self Portraits

Make sure that each student has access to a mirror for this activity. If there isn’t one
handy in your classroom, bring some small mirrors in for the students to use.

Tell your students to use the mirror to draw a picture of themselves. It doesn’t have to
look exactly like them, but it should be a good representation of them. This simple
activity can promote self-reflection in students (beyond the kind that involves a
mirror).

To take this activity a bit further, have them divide the drawing in half—on the left
side, each student should draw herself as she sees herself, and on the right side, she
should draw herself as she thinks others see her. Along with this drawing, the students
can make an entry in their journal on the differences between how they see themselves
and how they think others see them.

Self-Concept Activities for Preschoolers

 If you’re looking for activities specifically
for preschoolers, this helpful website lists two dozen great ideas.

For example, a few of the activities that can help preschoolers develop a self-concept
include:

 Record each child’s voice during an activity period. Have the children listen to
the voices and guess which voice goes with each child.

 Have several children stand in a line in front of the class. Name the child who
is first, second, third and so on. Ask the children to change positions. Then have
each child in line name his or her new position. To vary the activity, have the
children at their seats name each child in line and describe his or her position.

 Make a friendship quilt. Cut several squares of brightly colored construction

paper. Give each child one of the squares. Have them decorate the square or even
glue a picture of himself, glitter, beads, sequins, or yarn to the square. Staple the
squares, side by side, to the bulletin board. If extra squares are needed to fill in
empty spaces, print the school’s name or teacher’s name on additional squares and
intermingle them with the student’s squares.

 Have the children think of some things they can’t do now, but can do when
they grow older. What are some things they can do now that they couldn’t do
when they were younger?

 Role-play the growth process from baby to father or mother to grandparent.

The child can interpret the process as he or she goes along. Children can also
develop a short play about the family.
Any of these activities can be adapted to fit your children’s context, whether that is a
classroom, at home, in a playgroup, in a therapy session, etc.

Lesson Plan on Self-Concept

If you’re looking for a good lesson plan on teaching self-concept, this plan from the
Utah Education Network is a great choice.

It starts with a description of self-concept as “the person I think I am” and contrasts it
with “the person others think I am” and “the person others think I think I am.”

A diagram on the first page shows a cycle with four “stops:”

 As I see myself
 My actions
 As others see me
 Other’s reactions to me

This diagram shows how each stop on the cycle feeds into the next, influencing each
aspect and eventually coming back to the original stop. For example, how we see
ourselves influences our actions. Our actions drive how others see us, and their image
of us drives their reactions or behavior toward us.

Feedback on ourselves contributes to our overall image of ourselves, and the cycle
continues.

Next, it describes several case studies to help drive the point home. There is the case
of a 45-year old father who looks in the mirror and thinks about the wrinkle he just
found, the weight he would like to lose, his desire to be a stay-at-home dad, his messy
and unorganized house, and a commitment he made that has overextended him.

There is also a case of a middle-aged mother thinking about her miserable day at
work, the last decade or so of overtime, her struggles to pay the bills and have a little
money left for herself, and all the things she has on her to-do list.

A third case focuses on a teenage girl who is concerned about her skin, her haircut,
whether her friends truly care about her, and an upcoming chemistry test that she has
not studied for.
The final case concerns a teenage guy who was struggling to understand calculus and
thinking back to the counselor that encouraged him to take it. He is also comparing
himself to his straight-A brother and thinking about how he wished he could be the
athlete his father wanted him to be. He is worrying about tryouts and doubting his
ability to even make the team.

For each of these cases, the questions are:

 How will the individual see himself or herself?

 How will the individual act toward others?
 How will the individual think others see him or her?
 How will others act toward the individual?
 What effect does this have on how the individual sees him- or herself?
 Where is the spiral headed and how can its motion be reversed?

This is a great lesson for children to learn, whether you introduce it in elementary
school (with some extra time and patience set aside!) or in high school.

Follow this link and click on “Self Concept Transparency” to see the example lesson
plan for yourself, and feel free to invent examples most relevant to your class or
client.

Self-Concept Worksheets (PDF)

Although activities and exercises can be extremely effective in helping young people
develop and understand their self-concept, worksheets can also lend a hand in this
endeavor. Three of the most useful worksheets on self-concept are described below.

Self-Concept Worksheet

This worksheet is a good choice for older children and young adults, although older
adults can certainly benefit from completing it as well. It consists of four pages with
various prompts to complete and questions to answer.

The first page poses a question on who you are overall: “How do you perceive
yourself? Who are you?” The individual completing the worksheet is instructed to
write about herself in the space below, spending at least five minutes on “free writing”
about who she thinks she is.

If she gets a bit lost or needs a better explanation, she can refer to the description of
self-concept at the bottom of the page. It reads:

“Self-concept is based on belief rather than on fact. Your self-concept does not
necessarily correspond with external reality – others may “see” you differently. What
you believe about yourself is true for you. It will be a powerful factor in determining
your behavior. For example, if you believe you are inferior to others, you will
probably act in a self-defeating fashion. If you believe you are strong and resilient,
you will likely succeed, even against great odds. Your self-concept can help or hinder
you.”

The second page asks the individual to review his self-description and identify three
qualities he sees as his greatest strengths and two qualities he sees as his most serious
weaknesses.

Next, the worksheet asks: “Which self-concept beliefs do you cling to despite feedback
to the contrary? Think of one of your self-concept beliefs that may be out of date and
write it down.”

Once the individual has his out-of-date belief identified, the worksheet asks him to
write about how and why he has revised (or should revise) this belief.

The next section focuses on how the individual’s self-belief may be holding her back.
It asks the individual to “List a self-belief that may be keeping you from reaching your
potential and explain how it limits you.”

The fifth section is an exercise that will require a full day before the results can be
written down. Once the individual has paid attention to his self-talk for a day, he
should come back to the worksheet and identify three examples of negative self-talk,
along with three positive affirmations he could use to replace the negative self-talk.

Next, the worksheet asks: “What one person has had the greatest impact on the way
you are today? Explain.”

In the seventh section, the questions focus on career:

 How did you choose your career or area of study?

 When did you realize you had talent or ability in this area?
 What do you think influenced your decision?
In a similar vein, the next questions posed are on the individual’s strengths as others
see them: “What do people tell you that you are good at? Do you agree? Why or why
not?”

The ninth question is on self-awareness: “Are there areas of your life in which you
“play a victim” by blaming someone or something else for what is happening in your
life? Why or why not?”

The next section focuses on appearance, asking:

 What do you like about your appearance?

 Is there anything you would change if you could?

Finally, the worksheet closes with a question about the “Mosquito Principle;” this
principle posits that, like a hungry mosquito at a picnic, your life is only as good as
the worst thing in it. A picnic can be lovely, but if there is a mosquito pestering you,
you won’t be able to truly enjoy the food and companionship.

In other words, we can be distracted from the best things in our life by the worst thing
(i.e., the mosquito).

The question is this: “Briefly explain a mosquito—i.e., the worst thing—in your life.
How might you get rid of this mosquito?”

Completing this entire worksheet will take time and effort, and the results will only be
useful if the individual is truly dedicated to learning about his or her own self-concept
and answers the questions honestly and with a great deal of thought.

You can find this worksheet from Joseph S. Miller’s website at this link.

All About Me

This worksheet from the Utah Education Network is a good option for children of all
ages.

It is only one page with 15 prompts to complete. These prompts are:

 I feel good about…

 I feel successful when…
 My favorite person is…
 My favorite activity is…
 I wish I could…
 I want to…
 If I could have three wishes, they would be:
a.
b.
c.
 I feel depressed when…
 A character trait I need to improve is…
 I am good at…
 I wish I did not…
 My family is…
 I would like to be…
 The most important thing to me is…
 The thing I like best about myself…

You can find this worksheet and other worksheets and lesson plans on the Utah
Education Network’s website here.

Who Am I?

This worksheet comes from Australia’s Beyond Blue organization and is perfect for
young children. It’s actually a 10-page PDF that includes several fillable worksheets,
all of which can contribute to a greater sense of self.

In Part 1, the child will complete the following prompts:

 My favorite food
 My favorite song/music
 My favorite place
 An important person in my life
 My favorite possession
 A group I belong to
 My favorite pastime
 A dream for the future
 Something I dislike
 Something I’m good at
In Part 2, the child will take this one step further by completing six “I am…”
statements. They can fill them in with anything that describes them: skills,
characteristics or traits, likes or dislikes, and groups or teams they belong to. The
examples given include:

 “I am a brother/sister.”
 “I am a good listener.”
 “I am against nuclear weapons.”
 “I am a member of the soccer team.”
 “I am a chocoholic.”

On the fourth page, there is an activity that may appeal to the more artistically-minded
children.

They are instructed to think of a symbol that represents them—something like an

object, animal, or some other representation—and draw it, then list some of the
qualities or characteristics that the symbol represents.

Further activities in this PDF involve self-esteem, strengths, and reflection. You can
find this PDF here.

8 Quotes on Self-Concept

Learning about how others perceive a

construct can be helpful in furthering our own understanding of that construct. Use the
quotes below to see how your idea of self-concept compares to the ideas of others.
What others think of us would of little moment did it not, when known, so deeply tinge
what we think of ourselves.

Paul Valéry

Know, first, who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly.

Epictetus

Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally
alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, ‘This is the real me’, and
when you have found that attitude, follow it.

William James

Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than
You.

Dr. Seuss

Act as if you are the person you want to be.

Bernie Siegel

The self is not something that one finds. It is something that one creates.

Thomas Szasz

There is but one cause of human failure. And that is man’s lack of faith in his true
Self.

William James

An individual’s self-concept is the core of his personality. It affects every aspect of

human behavior: the ability to learn, the capacity to grow and change. A strong,
positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success in life.

Joyce Brothers

A Take-Home Message
In this piece, we learned about what self-concept is (an overarching idea about who
we are), how it comes about (it develops throughout the lifespan, and is most flexible
in the early years), what it is related to and affected by (just about everything, but
namely consumer behavior, academic achievement, career development, and culture),
and whether you can do anything to change it—you can.

Our self-concept is affected by how we feel about ourselves and how we judge our
abilities, competencies, and worth as a person. When we put some effort into boosting
these self-evaluations, our self-concept will adjust to accommodate these changes.

We have the ability to change how we think about ourselves by working to become
more like our ideal selves. 

It might seem daunting to put in the effort required to revise your self-esteem and self-
image, but like most tasks, getting started is the hardest part. Refer to some of the
quotes above to get a dose of inspiration, or find some quotes on the subject that
inspire you and keep them nearby whenever you’re in need of some motivation.

What do you think about self-concept? Do you have any other good quotes about self-
concept? Do you have a developed self-concept or is it vaguer? Do you think it’s good
or bad to have self-concept differentiation?

Let us know in the comments, and thanks for reading.

References
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About the Author

Courtney Ackerman, MSc., is a graduate of the positive organizational psychology and
evaluation program at Claremont Graduate University. She is currently working as a
researcher for the State of California and her professional interests include survey
research, well-being in the workplace, and compassion.