What is Self ?
In social psychology, the self refers to the individual’s subjective sense of identity, including their beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviors. The self is a central concept in social psychology, as it is the basis of human motivation, cognition, and behavior. Social psychologists study the self in various ways, including:
Self-concept: The individual’s beliefs and attitudes about themselves, including their identity, self-esteem, and self-efficacy.
Self-perception: The individual’s interpretation of their own behavior and how it relates to their self-concept.
Self-presentation: The individual’s efforts to control how others perceive them, including impression management and self-monitoring.
Self-regulation: The individual’s ability to regulate their own behavior and emotions, including self-control and self-discipline.
Self-esteem: The individual’s overall evaluation of themselves, including their sense of worthiness, confidence, and self-respect.
Self-categorization: The individual’s identification with social groups and the impact this has on their sense of self.
Processes of self : Social Psychology
In social psychology, the self is studied as a dynamic and multifaceted construct that is shaped by various psychological processes. Here are some of the key processes of self in social psychology:
Self-awareness: This refers to the individual’s conscious attention to their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and how they perceive themselves in relation to others. Self-awareness can be triggered by internal factors (e.g., introspection) or external factors (e.g., being observed by others).
Self-perception: This refers to the individual’s interpretation of their own behavior and how it relates to their self-concept. For example, if someone observes themselves helping others frequently, they may conclude that they are a helpful person and adjust their self-concept accordingly.
Self-evaluation: This refers to the individual’s assessment of their own worth, competence, and adequacy. This evaluation is influenced by both internal factors (e.g., personal goals and standards) and external factors (e.g., social comparison with others).
Self-regulation: This refers to the individual’s ability to control their own behavior and emotions in order to achieve their goals. Self-regulation involves processes such as self-monitoring, self-control, and self-discipline.
Self-esteem: This refers to the individual’s overall evaluation of themselves, including their sense of worthiness, confidence, and self-respect. Self-esteem can be influenced by both internal factors (e.g., personal successes and failures) and external factors (e.g., social comparisons with others).
Self-consistency: This refers to the individual’s desire to maintain consistency between their beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Inconsistencies can cause cognitive dissonance and motivate individuals to change their behavior or beliefs in order to reduce the discomfort.
Self-enhancement: This refers to the individual’s tendency to view themselves in a positive light and to seek out positive feedback and validation from others.
What is self concept
In social psychology, self-concept refers to the set of beliefs, attitudes, and ideas that individuals have about themselves. It encompasses one’s beliefs about one’s own personality traits, abilities, values, roles, and relationships with others.
Self-concept can be divided into two components: the actual self and the ideal self. The actual self represents the individual’s perception of their own characteristics, while the ideal self represents the characteristics that the individual would like to possess. The distance between the actual and ideal selves is known as self-discrepancy, which can lead to feelings of dissatisfaction or discomfort.
Self-concept can be influenced by a variety of factors, including cultural norms, social comparisons, feedback from others, and personal experiences. It plays an important role in shaping how individuals think, feel, and behave in social situations.
Self Esteem
In social psychology, self-esteem refers to an individual’s overall evaluation or appraisal of their own worth or value. It represents the degree to which a person likes or approves of themselves and is an important aspect of an individual’s self-concept.
Self-esteem is generally classified as either high or low, and can have a significant impact on an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior. High self-esteem is associated with positive emotions, a sense of confidence, and a willingness to take risks and try new things. Low self-esteem, on the other hand, is associated with negative emotions, self-doubt, and a tendency to avoid challenges and opportunities.
Self-esteem can be influenced by a variety of factors, including social comparisons, feedback from others, personal experiences, and cultural norms. It is often closely related to self-worth, which refers to an individual’s sense of inherent value or worth as a person. Individuals with high self-esteem tend to have a positive sense of self-worth, while those with low self-esteem may struggle with feelings of inadequacy or inferiority.
Self Presentation
Self-presentation, in social psychology, refers to the process by which individuals try to shape the impressions that others form of them. It involves managing one’s behavior, appearance, and communication in order to create a desired image or impression in the eyes of others.
Self-presentation can take different forms depending on the context and the goals of the individual. For example, it may involve trying to appear competent and knowledgeable in a job interview, attractive and desirable on a first date, or friendly and approachable in a social gathering.
Self-presentation strategies can be either conscious or unconscious, and can be influenced by factors such as the individual’s personality, culture, and social norms. They may involve various tactics such as self-promotion, ingratiation, intimidation, or supplication, depending on the situation and the goals of the individual.
