Definitions [3]
Definition: Self
Self refers to the totality of an individual’s conscious experiences, ideas, thoughts, and feelings with regard to herself or himself.
Definition: Personal Identity
Personal identity refers to those attributes of a person that make her/him different from others.
Definition: Social Identity
Social identity refers to those aspects of a person that link her/him to a social or cultural group or are derived from it.
Key Points
Key Points: Concept of Self
- Self refers to a person’s awareness of who they are, including their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
- The idea of self develops gradually from childhood through interaction with parents, friends, and society.
- Personal identity includes qualities, abilities, beliefs, and characteristics that make a person unique.
- Social identity includes aspects that connect a person to social or cultural groups, such as religion, region, or community.
- The self has a dual nature: it can be a subject (the knower or actor) and an object (the one being observed).
- There are different kinds of self, such as personal self (focused on individual needs and achievements) and social self (focused on relationships, cooperation, and social values).
Key Points: Carl Roger's Self Theory
- Self-concept = how we see our traits, abilities, and values.
- A big gap between self-concept and real experience causes anxiety.
- A fully functioning person is authentic, empathetic, independent, and open to growth.
- Anxiety comes from mismatch between goals and reality or self-image and abilities.
- To reduce the gap: reflect regularly, get honest feedback, and set realistic goals.
