Itsekäsitykseen

Itsekäsitykseen is the illative singular form of the Finnish noun itsekäsitys, which refers to the self-concept. In Finnish grammar, the illative case is used to express movement into or toward something, so itsekäsitykseen appears in sentences describing entering or relating to one’s self-concept. Beyond its grammatical usage, itsekäsitys as a concept is widely used in psychology and education to discuss how a person understands and evaluates themselves.

The self-concept, or itsekäsitys, is the organized set of beliefs a person has about themselves. It includes perceptions of one’s abilities, traits, values, roles, and identity. The concept is multidimensional, commonly described in domains such as cognitive abilities, social identity, physical appearance, emotions, and moral values. It is distinct from but related to other notions such as itsetunto (self-esteem) and minäkäsitys (self-image). While self-esteem concerns evaluative judgments about value, self-concept centers on what a person thinks they are like.

Development and impact: Itsekäsitys develops through life via feedback from family, peers, education, culture, and personal experiences. A coherent, positive self-concept supports motivation, learning, coping, and well-being, whereas a disjointed or negative self-concept can be linked to difficulties in various life areas. Cultural and linguistic context shapes how people understand and express itsekäsitys, and researchers in Finland often examine it alongside related constructs to support learner development and mental health.

Measurement and use: In practice, self-concept is typically assessed with self-report instruments that ask about perceived competence and traits across different domains. In Finnish research, itsekäsitys is studied together with related terms such as itsetunto and minäkäsitys to obtain a fuller picture of a person’s self-perception.