Define and discuss self-concept. Explain the four basic means through which we develop our

self concept.

What will be an ideal response?

Self-concept is how we consistently describe ourselves to others; it is deeply rooted and
slow to change. Self-concept is not a one-dimensional attribute, but is
multi-dimensional. That is, we have many selves. One of the many frameworks for
describing who you are is William James? framework of the three selves: material self,
social self, and spiritual self. Basically there are four means through which we develop
our self-concept. The first is through communication with others. Other people give us
feedback about ourselves, either by directly telling us something or through reactions to
our behaviors. Because of the strong impact of others on our self concept, people who
are raised in a loving, supportive environment may have a higher self -concept than
people who are raised in a harsh, over-critical environment. The second influence on
our self-concept is our association with groups. We label ourselves according to the
groups we belong to. We may see ourselves as a Republican, a Catholic, a Texan, or
identify with any other group we belong to. In addition, our peer groups have a strong
influence on how we see ourselves. The third influence on our self-concept is our
assumed roles. The roles that we have in society in part determine how others treat us.
Therefore, we come to see ourselves in light of that role. Gender is a role that affects
how people respond to us from birth, thus our gender role becomes a powerful
contributor to our self-concept. The fourth influence on our self-concept is our
self-labels. Humans are capable of thinking about themselves (self-reflexiveness), so
the labels we use become part of our self-concept. In addition, our beliefs, attitudes, and
values become part of our self-labels.