Interpersonal Communication

IC & Self (Part 1)

Self-Concept (Who you think you are)
● The labels you use to describe yourself are part of yourself and your self-concept, and
they are CHANGEABLE.
● Self: the sum total of who a person is; a person’s central inner force (What REALLY
defines you)
● Self-concept: a person’s subjective description of who he or she is. It is filtered through
your own perceptions.
● We can view self-concept as the labels we consistently use to describe ourselves to
others.
● Labels may change because a healthy self-concept is flexible.
● Reflection:- one of the most powerful tools we can use to enhance self-awareness.

3 Components Reflecting Self-Concept

Attitude, Belief, Values
- These three elements are learned construct
- They shape behavior and self-image
- They often function independently on each other

Attitude: - a learned predisposition to respond to a person, object, / idea in a favorable /

unfavorable way.

Belief: - the way in which you structure your understanding of reality—what is true & what is
false for you.
E.g. Religion

Values: - way to endure concepts of good & bad, right & wrong.

Mindfulness (Being Consciously Aware)

> Being self-aware involves mindfulness.

Mindfulness: - ability to think consciously about what you are doing & experiencing, rather than
responding out of habit/ intuition.

3 Ways of being Mindfully self-aware:

(i) Subjective Self-awareness
(ii) Objective Self-awareness
(iii) Symbolic Self-awareness
(i) Subjective Self-awareness
> The ability that you have to differentiate yourself from the environment – separate entity from
all that is around you

(ii) Objective Self-awareness

> The ability to be the object of your own thoughts & attention (control thoughts & attention)

(iii) Symbolic Self-awareness

> Unique to humans – our ability not only to think about ourselves but to use language
(symbols), to represent ourselves to others
E.g: Use ONE word to describe yourself

How Can You Grow in Your Self-Awareness

1. Ask Yourself About Yourself
2. See Your Different Selves
3. Listen to Others
4. Increase Your Open Self
5. Actively Seek Information About Yourself

Attachment Styles
- You develop your attachment style based on how secure, anxious / uncomfortable you
felt in relating to one / both of your parents
- It influences your concept of self & how you relates to others

3 Types of Attachment Styles

1. Secure
2. Anxious
3. Avoidant

1. Secure attachment style: - the style of relating to others that is characteristic of those who
are comfortable giving & receiving affection, experiencing intimacy, & trusting other
people.

2. Anxious attachment style: - the style of relating to others that is characteristic of those who
experience anxiety in some intimate relationship & feel uncomfortable giving & receiving
affection.

3. Avoidant attachment style: - the style of relating to others that is characteristic of those who
consistently experience discomfort & awkwardness in intimate relationships & who
therefore avoid such relationships.
How Does Your Self-Concept Develop?
(i) Interaction With Others
● We form our self-concept by seeing ourselves in a figurative looking glass when we
interact with others.
● The looking-glass self is the concept that suggests you learn who you are on your
interaction with others who reflect back to you.

(ii) Associations With Groups

● A variety of groups, including religious, political, ethnic, social study, occupational, &
professional groups, play important roles in determining your self-concept.
● Groups provide important support for people who are marginal to the dominant culture.

(iii) Roles You Assume

● Father, sister, uncle, manager, salesperson, teacher, & student are labels that imply
certain expectations for behaviors, & which shape self-concept.
● Gender groups exert a powerful influence on role selection.

(iv) Your Personality & Biology

● Your personality- the behavioral characteristics that describe how people react to their
environment- is central to psychology, the study of how your thinking & emotional
responses influence the way you behave.
● Understanding the forces that shape your personality is central to increasing your
awareness of your self-concept & how you relate to others.