![Self Identity and Self Concept are not fixed in one frame. This is because time frames
affect how we view our self concept and our identity. Like for instance, we can say that
we are an achiever in grade school [ which pertains to the past] a regular college
student which pertains to the present and future business man which pertains to the
future. In other words, our self concept and identity is like a moving water that when is
placed at different container, it can adapt to its shape while maintaining the same
element.
SLIDE 6
Our Self-Schema explains our collective factors that make ourselves identifiable. Our
Family, Religion, Hobbies, and nationality are collective identities that when combined
make our whole self. However, the schema shown is limited to these four aspects. It
may also include your interest, work, course, age, and many others. And as we grow
older we adapt with the changes around us, thus these schemas also change.
But they are not passive because it will be embedded in you and will actively shape how
you feel, how you see and how you think.
For example, when someone calls our name even if it's not intended for us, it will call
our attention. Or when we are in another country and we notice someone speaking our
native language, it somehow catches our attention.
SLIDE 7
A lot of psychologists follow this trend of thinking which is looking deeper into the mind
of the person to theorize about the self, identity and self concept. However, as
mentioned earlier, one cannot discount the fact that the effects of society and culture on
the formation of self, identity and self concept. Because even if researchers and
theorists delve deeper into the mind, they cannot fully discount the huge amount and
important effects of our environment.
This is under the Theory of Symbolic Interactionism in which the self is created and
developed through human interaction and here's the reason why the self is the product
of social interaction.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/practice-teach-250603151435-737f66e4/85/PRACTICE-TEACH-pdf-Understanding-the-Self-2-320.jpg)
PRACTICE-TEACH.pdf Understanding the Self
- 1. SLIDE 1 Now we all know that in almost all fields of social sciences, self and identity at least have their own research, definition and conceptualization about it— some are similar and some are specific. And this is not new because in Psychology self has a specified meaning compared to Sociology. In psychology, it looks at the self more on how we think and how we feel, Basically crediting the idea that how we interact with ourselves and the other is driven by our cognition and mental process. Now in contrast, Sociology looks at the self basing on our roles of the society (student, mother, child, or a friend) However, despite the contrasting fields, these two are intricately connected because although psychology focuses on the individual and its cognitive function, it doesn't discount the context of other possible factors in our society that may affect an individual. Activity SLIDE 3 Self- The sense of personal identity and of who we are as individuals. Basically, Self refers to our unique sense of identity, encompassing our thoughts, feelings, experiences, and perceptions that define who we are as individuals. Think of it like a mental narrative that weaves together our values, beliefs, memories, and relationships, shaping our sense of self and influencing how we interact with the world. SLIDE 4 William James basically introduced the Idea of The I-Self and the Me-Self The I-self is the knower Self and the Me-Self is the Self that is known SLIDE 5 Carl Roger’s Theory of Personality ● Identity - composed of personal characteristics, social roles and responsibilities, as well as affiliations that define who one is. ● Self Concept - what comes to your mind when you are asked about who you are
- 2. Self Identity and Self Concept are not fixed in one frame. This is because time frames affect how we view our self concept and our identity. Like for instance, we can say that we are an achiever in grade school [ which pertains to the past] a regular college student which pertains to the present and future business man which pertains to the future. In other words, our self concept and identity is like a moving water that when is placed at different container, it can adapt to its shape while maintaining the same element. SLIDE 6 Our Self-Schema explains our collective factors that make ourselves identifiable. Our Family, Religion, Hobbies, and nationality are collective identities that when combined make our whole self. However, the schema shown is limited to these four aspects. It may also include your interest, work, course, age, and many others. And as we grow older we adapt with the changes around us, thus these schemas also change. But they are not passive because it will be embedded in you and will actively shape how you feel, how you see and how you think. For example, when someone calls our name even if it's not intended for us, it will call our attention. Or when we are in another country and we notice someone speaking our native language, it somehow catches our attention. SLIDE 7 A lot of psychologists follow this trend of thinking which is looking deeper into the mind of the person to theorize about the self, identity and self concept. However, as mentioned earlier, one cannot discount the fact that the effects of society and culture on the formation of self, identity and self concept. Because even if researchers and theorists delve deeper into the mind, they cannot fully discount the huge amount and important effects of our environment. This is under the Theory of Symbolic Interactionism in which the self is created and developed through human interaction and here's the reason why the self is the product of social interaction.
- 3. SLIDE 8 1. We do not create ourselves out of nothing. Our decisions and some parts of our identity and our choices in life are somewhat influenced by the society which helped us build the foundation of who we are today. When we transfer from one culture to another, we may of course adapt to the environment that we are into, however, the trace of our origin will still affect us. 2. We need others to affirm and reinforce who we think we are. As they always say, no man is an island. And evidently this also comes with the formation of ourselves. We also need other people as reference points of our identity. One example is what is happening in social media right now, some of us may consciously or unconsciously fill ourselves with others validation especially through likes. We feel more entitled and uplifted when we have a lot of social media praise and that it makes us reinforce our self concept. 3. What we think is important may be influenced by our society or time period. Think about education, not everyone values education and think of it as an important factor to success. But if you're someone who came from a family where education is valued, you will consider it to be an important thing in your self-concept because you grew up believing that education matters. Another thing is Money, an individual might give much importance to money especially when we he/he came from a low income class, and someone who came from higher class might believe that money is just a paper with a value. SLIDE 9 There are times however that we are aware of our self concept. And this is called the self awareness. Which basically has two types Private Self (Real Self) The private self, according to Rogers, is the true, inner self—how we genuinely feel, think, and perceive ourselves without external influences. It includes our personal experiences, emotions, values, and desires.
- 4. Key Features: Internal, authentic identity, Not necessarily shown to others, May include feelings or traits a person hides out of fear of judgment or rejection Example: A person might privately feel anxious about social situations and prefer solitude, but they may not share this with others due to fear of being seen as "antisocial" or "shy." Public Self (Ideal Self or Self-Presentation) Definition: The public self refers to the version of ourselves that we present to others—how we want others to see us. This is influenced by societal expectations, roles, and norms. Key Features: Shaped by social context, May not reflect the true self, Can cause stress if it significantly differs from the private self Example: The same person who feels anxious in social settings may act outgoing and cheerful in public, especially at work, to appear confident and likeable. SLIDE 11 Self-Consciousness Definition: Self-consciousness is the awareness of oneself as an individual, especially in terms of how one is perceived by others. It’s the ability to reflect on your thoughts, behaviors, and appearance. Types: 1. Private Self-Consciousness: Focus on internal thoughts and feelings (e.g., "How do I really feel about this situation?"). 2. Public Self-Consciousness: Focus on how one is seen by others (e.g., "Do I look nervous right now?").
- 5. Example: If you're giving a speech and constantly thinking about how people are judging your performance, that’s high public self-consciousness. SLIDE 12 Self-Esteem Definition: Self-esteem is your overall sense of personal value or self-worth. It reflects how much you like, accept, and respect yourself. Components: ● Global Self-Esteem: General sense of worthiness. ● Domain-Specific Self-Esteem: Confidence in specific areas (e.g., academic self-esteem, social self-esteem). Example: A person might have high self-esteem because they believe they are kind, competent, and deserving of love and success. Upward Social Comparison Definition: Comparing yourself to someone who is better off than you in some way (e.g., more successful, attractive, talented). Purpose: ● Can be motivating, inspiring self-improvement. ● But can also lead to feelings of inadequacy or low self-esteem if the gap feels too large. Example: A student compares their grades to the top student in the class and feels inspired to study harder—or discouraged if they feel they can’t compete.
- 6. Downward Social Comparison Definition: Comparing yourself to someone who is worse off than you in some way. Purpose: ● Often used to boost self-esteem. ● Can lead to complacency or lack of motivation if overused. Example: Someone who’s feeling insecure about their job performance might compare themselves to a colleague who is struggling more, which helps them feel more competent by comparison. SLIDE 12 Two Main Processes in SEM: 1. Comparison Process ○ Happens when someone close to you excels in an area that's important to your self-concept. ○ This can threaten your self-esteem, because it makes you look worse by comparison. ○ Response: You might distance yourself, reduce closeness, or devalue the importance of that domain. 2. Example: If your best friend wins an award in writing and you’re an aspiring writer, you might feel threatened—even if you care about them. 3. Reflection Process
- 7. ○ Happens when someone close to you excels in an area you don’t personally value. ○ This can boost your self-esteem, because you feel proud or "share" their success. 4. Example: If your sister wins a tennis championship, but you don’t care about sports, you might feel proud and happy without feeling threatened. SLIDE 13 Narcissism Key Features of Narcissism: 1. Inflated self-image ○ Believing you are more important, talented, or special than others. 2. Need for admiration ○ Constant desire for praise, recognition, or validation. 3. Lack of empathy ○ Difficulty understanding or caring about other people's feelings. 4. Fragile self-esteem ○ Although narcissists appear confident, their self-esteem is often unstable and easily threatened. 5. Entitlement ○ Expecting special treatment or believing rules don’t apply to them. In conclusion, understanding oneself can be challenging given the dynamic of life. However, staying true to your core and knowing your value with authenticity will help you navigate yourself easily.