Itsekuva

Itsekuva is a Finnish term that denotes the way a person perceives and evaluates themselves—often translated as self-image or self-concept. It includes beliefs about one’s own traits, abilities, appearance, and social roles, as well as the feelings associated with these beliefs. The concept overlaps with self-esteem and body image and can influence motivation, behavior, interpersonal relations, and mental health.

In psychology, itsekuva develops through feedback from others, personal experiences, cultural expectations, and social contexts. A stable and positive itsekuva is linked to well-being, while discrepancies between one’s actual and ideal self can contribute to distress. It can vary across situations and change across life stages.

In everyday use, people construct their itsekuva through self-presentation, media use, and narrative about their life. Digital environments can intensify the formation of self-image as individuals curate appearances and identities for different audiences.

In art and culture, itsekuva also refers to self-portraits—visual representations in which an artist depicts themselves. The term emphasizes the intentional contemplation of one’s own identity and appearance as subject matter.

The term is primarily used in Finnish-language discourse but is related to international concepts such as self-image, self-concept, body image, and self-esteem.