Self-Concept Theory - Who Am I?

Post By: Abolaji Daniel

Self-Concept Theory

There are many theories about what exactly self-concept is and how it develops. Generally, theorists agree on the following points:

• On the broadest level, self-concept is the overall idea we have about who we are and includes cognitive and effective judgments about ourselves;
  
  
• Self-concept is multi-dimensional, incorporating our views of ourselves in terms of several different aspects (e.g., social, religious, spiritual, physical, emotional);
  
  
• It is learned, not inherent;
  
  
• It is influenced by biological and environmental factors, but social interaction plays a big role as well;
  
  
• Self-concept develops through childhood and early adulthood when it is more easily changed or updated;
  
  
• It can be changed in later years, but it is more of an uphill battle since people have established ideas about who they are;
  
  
• Self-concept does not always align with reality. When it does, our self-concept is “congruent.” When it doesn’t, our self-concept is “incongruent.”