Self-concept

(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)

(For literature on "Building Leadership and Management", refer: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com)

Definitions

There are several connotations to the word or phrase “self-concept”:

It is perceived personality or an aspect of the personality of the self.
It indicates the complete personality of the self.
It is one’s own identity. So, self-concept can be called also as self identity.
It can be defined as conscious understanding of the self.
If the typical question “who am I” can be correctly and completely answered, the answer in itself is self concept.
Self-concept is the search of the truth about the self.
Without going into in-depth technical debate or technical dissection, self-concept also can be termed as self image.
Again, without going into in-depth technical debate or technical dissection, self-concept also can be termed as self-schema. Self-schema is the storage of information about the self, the way one thinks and behaves.
Self-concept is normally an outcome of the self-assessments or introspection.

Factors that May Constitute Self-concept

Description of any entity or any system completely can be done by describing many constituent elements of it in a number of different ways.

For example, imagine describing a car to someone. You will try to describe the car by describing many elements or factors of it in different ways. You will describe its physical appearance- its shape, size, style, color, seating capacity, number of doors etc. You may then go to describe its component systems or aggregates- engine, transmission, chassis, electrical/electronic system, safety devices etc. You may also describe the car by the type of its use or function- sedan, station wagon, sports etc. Gas consumption pattern will provide you with one more description of the car. Thus, the more elements and more relevant elements of car you describe, the clearer becomes the concept of that car.

Human being is far more complex. To describe a human being more completely, the characteristics of a person, at least on the following factors must be found out and assessed. Determining self-concept of a person, thus, is not a very simple task because as you may see that the factors given below are quite loaded.

Physical attributes (height, weight, hair color, color of eyes, gender etc).
Values (fundamental beliefs).
Knowledge (intelligence quotient IQ, emotional quotient EQ and spiritual quotient SQ).
Paradigms (mindsets or thinking patterns on day-to-day’s numerous things).
Skills and competencies.
Social behavior with people from various spheres (including at home).
Habits.
Interests and hobbies.

It will be a good idea also to refer: (Effectiveness Management: HSoftware) http://humansoftware.blogspot.com/ or (Life Management: Effectiveness Management: HSoftware) http://knol.google.com/k/shyam-bhatawdekar/management-in-life-profession-family/6txz9nck6g3/3#, (Paradigm and Paradigm Shift) http://paradigm-mindset.blogspot.com/, (Competency Matrix) http://competency-matrix.blogspot.com/, (Competencies- Life Management) http://shyam-bhatawdekar.blogspot.com/ or (Life Management: Competencies) http://knol.google.com/k/shyam-bhatawdekar/competency-matrix/6txz9nck6g3/4#, (Personality) http://human-personality.blogspot.com/

Self-concept Is Three Dimensional

Self part: How I think I am based on my judgment and experience. In this exploration, in addition to the self introspection on many aspects, also I get the answers for those certain things that I alone know about myself and no one else knows about them.
Social part: How I think I am based on others’ thinking or perceptions about me. This comes by way of implicit or explicit feedback from others about me. In this kind of feedback, in addition to the feedback on many aspects, also I get the answers for those certain things that the others alone know about me and I am just not aware of them.
Ideal part: How I wish to become (and so, wish to be seen) and also, what I don’t want to become. This is done by understanding the other two parts, the self part and the social part and then working out the future plan of actions. It is a serious exercise and also needs good amount of my time and attention. It envelops opportunities and threats, hopes and fears, goals and time lines etc.

Time Dimension of Self-concept

Self-concept shows relatively more permanent self-assessments on various factors that constitute self-concept. These factors have been mentioned earlier. Example: if a person is laid back type, it is his more permanent trait and so, it is a part of his self-concept. But the same person may not feel well on one odd day and therefore, he acts a bit laid back on that particular day, it does not represent his self-concept.
However, self-concept may change with time if one tries to change oneself on any one or more or all of these factors or the change occurs due to factors beyond one’s control.
If one wishes to be more effective and efficient to achieve success and growth, one will have to improve one’s self concept from the present (self part and social part, mentioned earlier) to the ideal self concept profile (the ideal part mentioned earlier). This is an important journey- saying that I am here right now and I wish to reach there over a defined time line.

Creating self-concept Is Not an Easy Exercise- It’s Not a Cakewalk

We give below one of the easiest of the hundreds of more difficult to answer questionnaires that are used to uncover some specific aspects (factors described earlier) of the self-concept. Try answering the questionnaire and you get the flavor:

On Myself (Fill in the blanks against each point below with understanding and honesty):

What I like best about myself is___________________________
I am best at__________________________________________
My biggest success was/is ______________________________
In my job I enjoy______________________________________
My biggest weakness is_________________________________
My biggest mischief is__________________________________
I feel unhappy when___________________________________
I feel most happy when_________________________________
I value myself for_____________________________________
I feel powerful when I__________________________________
I am special because___________________________________
I want to become the kind of person who___________________
__________________________________________________
One of my dreams is__________________________________
__________________________________________________
I am________________________________________________

Titles of Some of Well Known Questionnaires/Instruments That Are Used to Determine the Self-concept on Various Factors

Winners and losers (Self image check list). Refer: (Winners and Losers) http://winners-losers.blogspot.com/
How do you see yourself? (Personal preference index).
Johari window.
Firo-B (Interpersonal profile). Refer: (Interpersonal Relations) http://interpersonal-relations.blogspot.com/
Know your ego states (Ego-gram). Refer: (Transaction Analysis- TA) http://transaction-analysis.blogspot.com/
Self perception questionnaire: life positions (OKness). Refer: (Life Positions and OKness) http://life-positions.blogspot.com/
Overall interpersonal/operating effectiveness.
Conflict management modes. Refer: (Conflict Management) http://manage-conflict.blogspot.com/
Leadership profile (Managerial grid). Refer: (Leadership) http://lead-max.blogspot.com/
Work patterns (Type A and type B personalities). Refer: (Stress Management) http://management-of-stress.blogspot.com/
Three sixty degrees feedback. Refer: (Three Sixty Degrees Appraisal System) http://three-sixty-degrees-feedback.blogspot.com/
IQ questionnaires.
EQ questionnaires. Refer: (Emotional Intelligence) http://emotional-quotient-intelligence.blogspot.com/
SQ questionnaires. Refer: (Spiritual Quotient/Intelligence) http://spiritual-quotient.blogspot.com/