Components of the Self-Concept Self-concept involves 4 separate but interrelated components: 1) physical self-concept 3) emotional self-concept 2) social self-concept 4) intellectual self-concept They are separate because each is unique on its own However they are also interrelated because our self-concept in one area can influence our self-concept in another area. For example-- if your self-concept is shaky in one area it may inhibit the risks I’m willing to take in another area, such as my social life and it may interfere with my ability to express myself emotionally (emotional self-concept). In contrast-- if I’m feeling positive about my physical self-concept, it may make me feel more confident about my social self. Goal: we want congruency between the components of the self. Generally speaking-- the greater the gap between the way we perceive ourselves and the way we really want to be, the more dissatisfied with ourselves we tend to be.

The Self-Concept is an internalized set of perceptions each of us has about ourselves that is relatively stable over time, consistent across situations, resistant to change and of central importance to us (Caproni, 2000) It is composed of our beliefs, interests, skills, strengths, weaknesses and what makes us similar to others. It influences our fundamental beliefs about who we are, who we should be and who we can become. It is socially constructed throughout life and influences how we think: * school * communities *family * religious affiliation * workplace *social institutions

Human Beings Share Four Fundamental Needs: The need to feel competent about something important to us such as work, achievements and relationships. The need to belong so we’re feeling appreciated for who we are; to establish a secure base we can come use for emotional refueling and draw strength; to sustain meaningful, lasting relationships. The need for consistency by believing the world is coherent, orderly place where there is predictability so we can organize our lives in meaningful ways and make the right decisions about our lives. The need to find meaning in life and make sense of the world; we seek to answer ultimate questions such as Who am I? and What should I be doing with my life?

The self-concept is important because it influences the following: 1) Attention: the self-concept acts like a filter by allowing and disallowing information to enter our mind; we tend to notice things that are important to our self-concept. 2) Interpretation and Decision Making: our self-concept provides us with a frame of reference for making sense of what we notice. 3) Social Relations: our self-concept influences who we see as different or as similar to us, who we trust and the networks of people we create; assumptions we have of others 4) Moral Decision Making: our self-concept influences our ideas about right and wrong, ethical and unethical. 5) Ability to Cope with Stress: our self-concept helps us deal with the challenges of daily stress; a healthy self-concept provides us with psychological resources to work through the stress in life, give us confidence during times of change.