self concept

self concept

Mental image or picture of self

What you understand and believe about yourself

Your unique traits, skills, personality

Can be positive or negative

Many factors can affect self-concept

How one views self in relation to others and their environment

3 dimensions of self concept

1. self knowledge

2. self evaluation

3. self expectations

self knowledge

•Who am I? (global self)

•Basic facts: sex, race, age, occupation, culture, sexual orientation

•Position in social groups

•Qualities or traits (generous, ambitious, intelligent, dumb, “ugly”)

self evaluation

How well do I like myself

self expectations

• Who or what do I want to be?

•Developed from role models                                      

Self-respect

Self-approval

Self-worth

 

4 components of self concept 

1. self esteem

2. body image

3. personal identity

4. role performance 

components of personal identity

1. interests

2. objects/possessions

3. friends/family

4. work/hobbies

5. practices, habits

6. ethnicity

7. appearance

8. beliefs

9. values

10. choices

11. creations

intellectual self

•Cognitive ability

•Memory, learning, attention span

•Educational literacy

•Creative / artistic ability

•Understanding of the illness

•How has our past shaped how we think and what we believe is true

physical self 

•Effects of illness

    •Appearance

    •Function

    •Control

    •Mental

     •Social

     •Sexual

•Review of Systems

Moral / Ethical Self

•Belief system

•Personal beliefs

•Values

•Conscience

•Religious preferences

•Cultural influences

•Traditions

•Food

•Role in the family

emotional self

•Expressiveness

•Needs and drives

•Mood and affect

•Support systems

•Psychological status

•Beliefs

Why is assessment of self-concept important?

•Understanding our patients will help us facilitate a change in their behavior and maximize their coping

•Helps understand their priorities, which do not always align with our own

•Helps us find sources of support/strengths that are meaningful to that individual

development of self concept

1. self awareness

2. self recognition

3. self definition

4. self concept

characteristics of self concept (carl rogers self concept)

•Dynamic & complex

•Holistic

•Unique

•Reflective of culture

Peplau's Theory of Interpersonal Relations

•Appraisals are made by significant others about the self

•Appraisals are repeated, become a pattern, and become incorporated into the self

•Person’s behavior emerges to match the appraisal

•Self is open to reappraisal due to biophysical, maturational, and/or environmental changes

erikson

•Mastery of each stage supports a positive self concept. 

•Problems in one stage can cause a delay in mastery, stagnation, and lead to a negative self concept

erikson stages

maslow stages 

maslow

•Mastery of each level is required before the next  can be attempted

•Self-actualization is only achieved after successful movement through each stage

•Self-esteem is near the top and one of the components of self- concept

Characteristics of a Healthy Self-Concept

•Satisfaction with role performance

•Real self = ideal self

•High self-esteem

•Distinct sense of identity

•Emotionally stable

•Realistic life goals/aspirations

•Body image satisfaction

•Beliefs

Events Leading to Altered Self-Concept

•appearance

•function

•control

•relationships

•beliefs

•combination of events

Risk Factors for Self-Concept Disturbance

•Major developmental change

•Not meeting developmental milestones

•New trauma / multiple traumas

•Loss of body part

•Disfigurement

•Loss of a valued role

•Inability to meet role expectations

•Gender / cultural issues

•Relationship / social concerns

cues of low self concept

•Refusal to look at or touch a body part

•Unwillingness to talk about a problem

•Denial of the existence of a problem

•Increasing/abnormal dependence on others

•Self-destructive behavior

•Withdrawal from social contacts

•Change in patterns of normal responsibilities

•Change in usual behavior patterns

•Self-sabotage

Nursing process and  Self-Concept Diagnoses

See Taylor text

•Disturbed body image

•Low self-esteem

•Ineffective role performance

•Disturbed personal identity

•Ineffective coping

•Many more . . .

NOT Self-Concept Diagnoses

DO NOT USE THESE IN YOUR PAPER

•Impaired physical mobility

•Ineffective breathing

•Risk for infection

•Risk for falls

•Pain

•Many more are NOT self-concept issues

To address body image:

•Model acceptance

•Provide information and support

•Introduce adaptive functioning

•Allow client to share experiences

•Slowly introduce area of concern

•Establish relationship of trust

To address personal identity issues:

•Provide calm, unhurried atmosphere

•Describe behaviors of concern

To address self-care deficit:

•Model care

•Provide information and support

•Discuss possible changes in functioning

•Allow independent opportunities to practice

•To address ineffective coping:

•Research support systems

•Model acceptance

•Provide information and support

•Establish a supportive relationship

very important points starts with having self awareness…

•How does your self-concept affect your ability to care for patients in certain situations?

•Do you have any personal struggles/biases that are limiting your ability to act/do/think a certain way with patients?

•How do your values/morals affect your ability to care for patients?

•What do you need to understand more about yourself to be a better nurse?

•Do your communication skills enhance a therapeutic nurse/patient relationship?

•How do you deal with emotionally challenging situations?

A positive self-concept:

• is key to happiness and good mental health

•shows in feeling positive about yourself

•shows by having the courage to try new things

•when you make a mistake, it is a chance to try again and do it better

•you enjoy yourself, other people, and the world you live in

•you like yourself and others like you

•you are tolerant of others who are different from you and do not view that as a threat

•you treat others with respect, trust, kindness

•you constantly work on bettering self to create your full potential

•Knowing that you are always a “work-in-progress”