selfconcept

Self-concept is the collection of beliefs, perceptions, and evaluations that a person holds about themselves. It includes attributes, abilities, values, and social roles, forming a coherent sense of identity. Self-concept is multidimensional and domain-specific, with commonly recognized areas such as physical appearance, cognitive ability, academic competence, social relationships, and moral values. It differs from self-esteem, the affective sense of self-worth, and from self-identity, the broader sense of who one is within social contexts.

Self-concept develops through experience, feedback, and social comparison, and is shaped by family, peers, education, media, and culture. It changes with age and life events and is influenced by language and cultural norms.

Theoretical perspectives emphasize distinct but related ideas. Carl Rogers viewed the self-concept as the organized, relatively stable set of perceptions people hold about themselves. George Herbert Mead argued that self-concept emerges from social interaction and reflected appraisal, while Erik Erikson linked identity formation to psychosocial development across life stages.

Measurement and implications: Self-concept is assessed with self-report scales, interviews, and behavioral observations, often in domain-specific forms such as physical or academic self-concept. A positive self-concept is associated with motivation, resilience, and well-being; persistent negative self-concepts relate to distress and maladjustment. Because self-concept can be influenced by experience, targeted feedback and supportive environments can foster more coherent self-views.

Cross-cultural and contemporary perspectives stress variability in how self-concept is organized and expressed. Individualist cultures emphasize personal attributes and autonomy, while collectivist cultures emphasize social roles and relationships. Modern views also highlight narrative and contextual aspects of the self, which can shift across situations and over time.