Self-Concept Essay

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 Self-Concept Essay

My identity and self-worth are shaped by diverse experiences that have allowed me to

develop and understand my core qualities over time. As I have matured, I have come to see

myself as thoughtful, adaptable, and determined in my approach to life. Thoughtfulness refers to

my tendency to carefully consider multiple perspectives, weighing various options before

deciding. This trait is often seen in my thorough analytical approach. Adaptability describes my

ability to adjust successfully to changing demands and circumstances through flexible thinking.

Determination illustrates my persistent dedication to accomplishing goals despite challenges that

may emerge along the way. Influential relationships, personal experiences, and social

interactions have contributed to how I perceive myself and define my sense of self. This paper

will explore how my self-concept developed through influential relationships, compare

perceptions of my public and private selves, analyze challenges in communicating with others,

and provide strategies to strengthen competent communication.

Key figures have shaped aspects of my self-concept through the interpersonal

communication theories of reflected appraisal, social comparison, and self-fulfilling prophecy.

Reflected appraisal refers to how we view ourselves based on the feedback from others who are

important to us (Cooley, 1902). My parents consistently provided positive reflective appraisals

by praising my thoughtfulness as a child whenever I considered others' feelings or carefully

weighed options before making decisions. Through their positive reflections, I internalized being

thoughtful as part of my identity. Self-fulfilling prophecy suggests that others' expectations of us

can influence our behavior (Clark & Green, 2019). My tough but encouraging soccer coach

utilized self-fulfilling prophecy theory by believing in my determination and pushing me to work

harder, which led me to meet the high expectations she set. This strengthened my view of myself

as determined. My self-image as an adaptable person developed through comparing my ability to

adjust to various teammates and coaching styles over the years. This is in tandem with social

comparison theory, which holds that we define ourselves based on comparing to peers (Kretz,

2020). Overall, influential figures shaped key parts of my self-image through the feedback and

expectations communicated via these interpersonal processes.

While I aim to project consistency between my public self and perceived self, the reality

is more nuanced. At school and work, I strive to embody the qualities of thoughtfulness,

adaptability, and determination that define my self-concept. However, in closer relationships, I

feel comfortable revealing additional dimensions of identity. For example, around close friends, I

allow my personality to be more spontaneous and lighthearted rather than always thoughtfully

deliberating my words. With coworkers, I openly discuss struggles and brainstorm solutions,

contrasting the composed façade maintained with clients. Most privately, I experience occasional

self-doubt that contradicts my perceived determination. These private reflections of my self-

concept only surface in intimate interpersonal contexts.

Certain inherent attributes can lead to communication challenges by unintentionally

creating misaligned perceptions between myself and others. For instance, my analytical nature

cultivates thoughtful consideration, yet family members perceive prolonged decision-making as

unnecessary overthinking. During a debate, their frustration with my deliberation style made my

reasoning seem stubborn rather than thoughtful. Another challenge stems from my adaptable

nature. As an adaptable person, I modify my communication style to best suit different situations

and personalities. However, this backfired with one direct client early in my career. In our initial

meetings, I tailored my approach to match his concise, facts-focused style. Over time, as I
interacted with others preferring casual discussion, my style gradually shifted without intention.

When following up with the direct client months later, he felt I seemed less focused and more

chatty now, finding me inauthentic. This highlighted that while adaptability is a strength, taking

it too far makes my underlying identity unclear. It revealed the importance of maintaining a

genuine core style while demonstrating flexibility.

In conclusion, my self-concept developed through influential relationships that shaped

how I view myself as thoughtful, adaptable, and determined. Although I aim to convey stability

between my public and private selves, intimate settings reveal richer aspects of my personality.

Miscommunications also stem from behaviors being misjudged out of context due to insufficient

disclosure of my self-image. Future interactions will benefit from mindfully explaining the

multi-faceted authentic self. Clear self-disclosure facilitates stronger interpersonal bonds and

understanding between communicators.

 References

Clark, J. L., & Green, M. C. (2019). Self-fulfilling prophecies: Perceived reality of online

interaction drives expected outcomes of online communication. Personality and Individual

Differences, 133, 73–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.08.031

Cooley C. H. (1902). Human Nature and the Social Order. New York, NY: Charles

Scribner’s Sons

Kretz, V. E. (2020). Social comparison theory. The International Encyclopedia of Media

Psychology, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119011071.iemp0156