What is self-concept? What role does media play in the making of the self-concept?
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Answer:
A self-concept is an understanding you have of yourself that’s based on your personal experiences, body image, your thoughts, and how you tend to label yourself in various situations.
A self-concept can also be defined as an all-encompassing awareness you had of yourself in the past; the awareness you have of yourself in the present, and the expectations you have of yourself at a future time.
Your self-concept is built upon perception — upon how you perceive yourself based on the knowledge you have gained over a lifetime of experience.
When it comes down to it, a self-concept is a perception you have of your image, abilities, and in some ways a perception of your own individual uniqueness.
This perception you have of yourself is based on the information you have gathered about your values, life roles, goals, skills, and abilities over time.
Your self-concept is somewhat a collection of beliefs you have about your own nature, qualities, and behavior. It’s about how you think and evaluate yourself at any given moment in time.
But to truly understand what a self-concept is and its impact on your life, we first need to break down the three components of a self-concept. These three components are based on the work of Humanist Psychologist Carl Rogers.
Your Self Image
Your self-image comes down to how you see yourself in the present moment. This includes the labels you give yourself about your personality and the beliefs you have about how the external world perceives you.
It’s, however, important to note that your self-image isn’t necessarily based on reality. For instance, a person with anorexia may have a self-image that makes them believe they are obese, however, in reality, that is far from the truth.
Given this, it’s crucial to recognize that a self-image is only your own perception of yourself and has no real basis in reality.
Your Self-Ideal
Your self-ideal is how you wish you could be at a future time. This is your ideal self or the ideal person you envision of being and becoming.
Many times, how people see themselves and how they would like to see themselves doesn’t quite match up. And this is precisely what causes problems and often leads to self-sabotaging behavior patterns and emotional struggles.
Your Self-Esteem
Your self-esteem encompasses your current emotional experiences. Moreover, it refers to the extent to which you like or approve of yourself or the extent to which you value yourself.
You might, for instance, have a positive or negative view of yourself. When you have a negative picture of yourself, you are seen as having low self-esteem. This often manifests in a lack of confidence and pessimism.
On the other hand, when you have a favourable view of yourself you are seen as having high self-esteem. This often manifests in a confident disposition, self-acceptance, and optimism.
A healthy self-concept will help you to get ahead in life. It will allow you to maximize your potential and get the most from your strengths, talents, and abilities.
On the other hand, a weak self-concept will hinder your progress. In fact, a fragile self-concept will most likely lead to self-sabotaging behavior. As a result, you will struggle to follow through with your actions. Subsequently, you will fail to achieve the goals and objectives you set for yourself.