selfperception

Self-perception is the way individuals perceive and evaluate themselves across traits, abilities, and identity. It forms part of the broader self-concept and influences how people think, feel, and behave in daily life.

Self-concept refers to knowledge about one’s attributes and roles, while self-esteem is the evaluative judgment of one’s worth. Self-perception theory (Bem, 1967) posits that people infer attitudes and motivations by observing their own behavior.

Development arises from experience, feedback from others, language and culture, and reflective processing. Early relationships, success and failure, and social comparison shape beliefs; culture can emphasize independence or interdependence, affecting self-views.

Measurement relies on self-report scales and interviews; in research, implicit measures can reveal automatic associations. Results are affected by biases such as social desirability and limited introspection.

In education, work, and mental health, self-perception influences motivation, goal setting, persistence, and well-being. A realistic yet positive self-view supports resilience; distorted self-perception can accompany depression, anxiety, or maladaptive behavior.

Criticism highlights that self-perception is dynamic and context-dependent, with cross-cultural variation. It is important to distinguish self-perception from external judgments, while acknowledging feedback loops that continually update one’s self-view.