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Self-concept is a multi-dimensional construct that refers to an individual's perception of "self" in relation to any number of characteristics, such as academics (and nonacademics),^{[1][2][3][4][5]} gender roles and sexuality,^[6][7][8] racial identity,^[9] and many others. While closely related with self-concept clarity (which "refers to the extent to which self-knowledge is clearly and confidently defined, internally consistent, and temporally stable"),^[10] it presupposes but is distinguishable from self-awareness, which is simply an individual's awareness of their self. It is also more general than self-esteem, which is the purely evaluative element of the self-concept.^[11]

The self-concept is composed of relatively permanent self-assessments, such as personality attributes, knowledge of one's skills and abilities, one's occupation and hobbies, and awareness of one's physical attributes. For example, the statement, "I am lazy" is a self-assessment that contributes to the self-concept. In contrast, the statement "I am tired" would not normally be considered part of someone's self-concept, since being tired is a temporary state. Nevertheless, a person's self-concept may change with time, possibly going through turbulent periods of identity crisis and reassessment.

The self-concept is not restricted to the present. It includes past selves and future selves. Future selves or "possible selves" represent individuals' ideas of what they might become, what they would like to become, and what they are afraid of becoming. They correspond to hopes, fears, standards, goals, and threats. Possible selves may function as incentives for future behavior and they also provide an evaluative and interpretive context for the current view of self.^[12]

In philosophy, there is the concept of the ipse identity ("who am I?") as introduced by Paul Ricoeur.^[13]

See also

• Identity (social science)
• Personal identity
• Self (psychology)
• Self-efficacy
• Self-image
• Self-Schema

References

1. ^ Bong, M., & Clark, R. E. (1999). Comparison between self-concept and self-efficacy in academic motivation research. Educational Psychologist, 34(3), 139-153.
2. ^ Byrne, B. M. (1984). The general/academic self-concept nomological network: A review of construct validation research. Review of Educational Research, 54, 427-456.
3. ^ Byrne, B. M., & Worth Gavin, D. A. (1996). The Shavelson model revisited: Testing for the structure of academic self-concept across pre-, early, and late adolescents. Journal of Educational Psychology, 88, 215-228.
4. ^ Shavelson, R. J., & Bolus, R. (1982). Self-concept: The interplay of theory and methods. Journal of Educational Psychology, 74, 3-17.
5. ^ Shavelson, R. J., Hubner, J. J., & Stanton, G. C. (1976). Self-concept: Validation of construct interpretations. Review of Educational Research, 46, 407-441.
6. ^ Hoffman, Rose Marie, John A. Hattie, and L. DiAnne Borders. "Personal definitions of masculinity and femininity as an aspect of gender self-concept." Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education and Development 44.1 (2005): 66+.
7. ^ Wade, Jay C. "Male reference group identity dependence: a theory of male identity." The Counseling Psychologist 26.3 (1998): 349+.
8. ^ Hoffman, Rose Marie. "Conceptualizing heterosexual identity development: issues and challenges." Journal of Counseling and Development 82.3 (2004): 375+.
9. ^ Aries, Elizabeth, et al. "Race and gender as components of the working self-concept." The Journal of Social Psychology 138.3 (1998): 277+.
10. ^ Ayduk, Ozlem, Anett Gyurak, and Anna Luerssen. "Rejection sensitivity moderates the impact of rejection on self-concept clarity." Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin 35.11 (2009): 1467+.
11. ^ Fleming, J. S., & Courtney, B. E. (1984). The dimensionality of self-esteem: II Hierarchical facet model for revised measurement scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 404-421.
12. ^ Markus, H., & Nurius, P. (1986). Possible selves. American Psychologist, 41, 954-969.
13. ^ Ricoeur, Paul; Blamey, Kathleen (1995). Oneself as Another (Soi-même comme un autre), trans. Kathleen Blamey.. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. http://books.google.com/books?id=uCZSOYcB_CIC.  

External links

• An Overview of Self-Concept Theory for Counselors
• Assessment of Self-Concept
• Self-concept (Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology)
• Self-Concept and Self-Esteem (Valdosta)
• What Are The Effects Of The Self-Concept Theory In High School Students? (Lance Maruscsak)