UNDERSTANDING
st SELF
PG 1 semester (By Dr. Deepa sharma)
 

Self-Concept

 Self-concept  is an individual’s perception

of self and is what helps make each
individual unique.
 Positive and negative self-assessments
in the physical, emotional, intellectual,
and functional dimensions change over 
time.
 Self-concept affects the ability to function
and greatly influences health status.
 

Dimensions of Self-Concept

 Self-knowledge — ―Who am I?‖

 Self-expectation — ―Who or what do I want
to be?‖ 
be?‖ 
 Social self  –
 – How person perceived by
others?
 Self-evaluation — ―How well do I like
myself?‖  
myself?‖
 

Self knowledge

 Global self: is the term used to describe the

composite of all basic facts, qualities, traits,
images and feelings one holds about oneself.
 It includes:
1. Ba
Basi
sic
c fac
facts
ts:: se
sex,
x, age,
age, race
race,, occ
occup
upat
atio
ion,
n, cu
cult
ltur
ural
al
background, sexual orientation
2. Person’s position with social groups
3. Qu
Qual
alit
itie
ies
soorr ttra
rait
its
s ttha
hatt des
descr
crib
ibe
e typ
typic
ical
al
behaviours, feelings, moods and other 
characteristics (generous, hot-headed ,
ambitious, intelligent, sexy
 

Self expectations

 Expectations for self flow from various

sources.

The ideal self constitutes the self one
want to be.
 Self expectations develop unconsciously
early in childhood and are based on
image of role models such as parents
 

Self evaluation

 Self esteem is the evaluative and

affective component
component of self concept
 Maslow’s Subsets of Esteem Needs: 
Needs: 
1. Se
Self
lf-e
-est
stee
eem
m (stre
(streng
ngth
th,, ac
achi
hiev
evem
emen
ent,
t,
mastery, competence, ..)
2. Re
Resp
spec
ectt nee
needs
ds or the
the ne
need
ed fo
forr e
est
stee
eem
m
from others
 

Components of Self-Concept

 Identity
 Body image
 Self-esteem
 Role performance
 

Interrelationship of Components
of Self-Concept
 

Components of Self-Concept

  A sense of personal identity  is what sets

one person apart as a unique individual.
 Identity  includes a person’s name,
gender, ethnic identity, family status,
occupation, and roles.
 One’s personal identity begins to develop
during childhood and is constantly
reinforced and modified throughout life.
 

Components of Self-Concept

 Body image is an attitude about one’s

physical attributes and characteristics,
characteristics,
appearance, and performance.
 Body image is dynamic because any
change in body structure or function,
including the normal changes of growth
and development, can affect it. 
 

Components of Self-Concept

 Self-Ideal is the perception of behavior 

Self-Ideal is
based on personal standards and self-
expectations.
 Self-ideal serves
Self-ideal  serves as an internal regulator 
to support self-respect and self-esteem.
self-esteem.
 

Components of Self-Concept

 Self-esteem is the judgment of personal

performance compared with the self-
ideal.
 Self-esteem is derived from a sense of 
giving and receiving love, and being
respected by others.
 

Components of Self-Concept

 Role refers to a set of expected

behaviors determined by familial, cultural,
and social norms.
 The level of self-esteem is dependent
upon the self-perception of adequate role
 performance in these various social
 performance
roles.
 

Development of Self-Concept

 Self-concept evolves throughout life and

depends to an extent on an individual’s
developmental level.
 

Formation of Self-Concept

1. Infa
Infant
nt lear
learns
ns phys
physic
ical
al self
self diff
differ
eren
entt fro
from
m
environment.
2. If basi
basic
c nee
needs
ds are
are met
met,, chi
child
ld has
has pos
posit
itiv
ive
e
feelings of self.
3. Child internalizes others people’s attitudes
toward self.
4. Chil
Child
d or
or adu
adult
lt inte
intern
rnal
aliz
izes
es stan
standa
dard
rds
s of 
society.
 

Factors Affecting Self-Concept

  Altered Health
Health Status
 Experience

Developmental considerations
 Culture
 Internal and external resources
 History of success and failure
 Crisis or life stressors
  Aging, illness,
illness, or trauma
trauma
 

THANK YOU