6.1 Self-Concept and Identity

Self-Concept

Our own list of internal answers to the question "Who am I?"

Self-Schema

A self-given label that carries with it a set of qualities. Ex. "athlete" would entail youth, fitness, and dressing or acting in a certain way.

Identity

The individual components of our self-concept related to the groups to which we belong.

Gender Identity

Describes a person's appraisal of him or herself on the scale of being male or female.

Androgyny

Defined as the state of being simultaneously very masculine and very feminine.

Undifferentiated

Those who scale low on both the masculine and feminine scale.

Gender Schema

Gender identity is transmitted through cultural and societal means.

Ethnic Identity

Refers to a person's ethnic group.

Nationality

One's identity defined by political borders.

Hierarchy of Salience

Organization of our identities such that we let the situation dictate which identity holds the most importance for us at any given moment.

Self-Discrepancy Theory

Maintains that we are made up of three selves; our actual self, our ideal self, and our ought self. The closer the three selves are, the higher our self-esteem will be.

Actual Self, Ideal Self, and Ought Self

The three selves of the self-discrepancy theory.

Actual Self

The way we see ourselves as we currently are.

Ideal Self

The person that we would like to be.

Ought Self

Our representation of the way others think we should be.

Self-Esteem

The measure of how we feel about ourselves.

Self-Efficacy

Our belief in our ability to succeed.

Overconfidence

Leads us to take on tasks that we are not ready for.

Learned Helplessness

The development of a sense that we cannot help our situation.

Locus of Control

Refers to the way we characterize the influences in our lives.

Looking-Glass Self

An image of yourself based on what you believe others think of you.