Knowing Oneself, Self-Concept, Stress & Resilience

Vocabulary flashcards covering the lecture’s key concepts on self-knowledge, self-concept, stress, and resilience.

Knowing Oneself

The foundational process of becoming aware of one’s strengths, weaknesses, emotions, relationships, and responses to challenges.

The Self

Our inner being and sense of identity, shaped by experiences, relationships, environment, and reflection.

“I” Self (Subjective Knower)

The conscious, thinking part of the self that reflects, judges, and makes sense of experiences.

“Me” Self (Object Known)

The empirical, observable aspect of the self that includes traits, roles, and self-image—what the “I” examines.

Physical Self

One’s body, appearance, health, fitness, grooming, and overall biological makeup.

Emotional Self

The capacity to recognize, express, and manage feelings and to respond to emotional experiences.

Mental / Cognitive Self

Thinking processes such as reasoning, learning, problem-solving, mindset, beliefs, goals, and knowledge.

Spiritual Self

Values, beliefs, morals, and sense of purpose, including religious or personal philosophies.

Social Self

How a person interacts with others and fulfils roles such as friend, student, or family member.

Moral Self

One’s understanding of right and wrong, justice, fairness, ethics, integrity, and conscience.

Self-Concept

The mental picture of who you are, including feelings about yourself, perceived views of others, and desired future self.

Positive Self-Concept

A realistic, affirming view of self marked by confidence, acceptance of strengths and weaknesses, and openness to feedback.

Negative Self-Concept

An overly critical or inaccurate view of self characterized by self-doubt, fear of failure, and constant need for validation.

Self-Esteem

How you feel about yourself—your level of confidence and self-worth; answers “Do I like myself?”

Self-Image

The mental picture of how you currently see yourself physically, emotionally, and socially.

Ideal Self

The person you aspire to become—your goals, dreams, and best envisioned version of yourself.

Public Self

The version of yourself you present to others in public settings.

Real Self

Your authentic self without any masks; who you truly are when not trying to fit in.

Behavioral Self

The self revealed through actions, behaviors, and bodily reflexes.

Incongruence

A mismatch between self-image and ideal self that can cause stress, low self-esteem, and frustration.

Rene Descartes

Philosopher who stated “I think, therefore I am,” emphasizing thought as proof of existence.

John Locke

Philosopher who viewed the self as “a person who experiences,” stressing continuity of consciousness.

David Hume

Philosopher who described the self as “a bundle of experiences,” denying a permanent core identity.

George Herbert Mead

Philosopher who said “If the I speaks, the Me hears,” highlighting interaction between the knower and the known self.

Stress

The body’s physical and emotional response to perceived challenges or demands, triggering fight-or-flight.

Crisis

A state of intense cognitive or emotional distress where usual coping mechanisms fail, leading to confusion and anxiety.

Five Fs of Stress Response

Common reactions to threat: Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn, and (sometimes) Flop, used to understand stress patterns.

Common Sources of Student Stress

School requirements, household duties, limited resources, learning environment, grades, and peer pressure.

Stress Management Strategies

Techniques such as meditation, exercise, adequate sleep, deep breathing, time in nature, social connection, and prioritizing tasks.

Resilience

The process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult experiences, quickly recovering, and growing stronger.

Ways to Boost Resilience

Practicing mindfulness, setting realistic goals, embracing positivity, nurturing relationships, caring for health, and seeking help when needed.

Internal Factors (Self-Esteem)

Personal elements like self-awareness, mindset, past experiences, and support systems that shape self-esteem.

External Factors (Self-Esteem)

Outside influences such as social media, cultural norms, economic status, and work or school environments affecting self-esteem.