Discuss the concept of self-concept

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer:
Answers should include the following points:
1) Self-concept includes thoughts and beliefs we have about our own nature and can change as different aspects of ourselves or our environment become more salient.
- It can vary along a personal-social identity continuum.
- Social self emphasizes our membership in one or more groups and involves intergroup comparisons.
- Personal self emphasizes our differences from other individuals and involves intragroup comparisons.
- Different identities can be activated at different times or in different situations and will affect our behavior. One example is that gender differences will be displayed most prominently when our gender group identity is made salient.
2) Rejection, or the perception of rejection, by others can lead us to emphasize our differences from those who are rejecting us.
3) Thoughts of possible future selves can help us to make changes in the present in order to become a more desirable future self.
4) Self-efficacy is a feeling that we are capable of achieving a particular goal. Collective self-efficacy is the feeling that our group can achieve its goal. Such feelings are necessary for making changes to our self.
5) The self can change because of changes in our social situation. For example, if we change jobs, our self-identity will change to reflect the changes in our circumstances.