Personal Reflection on Self

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Personal Reflection on the Self In every human thought is an element of self. Self does not only exist inside an individual framework, but also within the social world. It is this relation to other selves that makes an impact on our lives. There are many types of self that need to be taken into account. These include: self-concept, social-self, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. This paper will cover all of these things and present a clearer understanding by providing two examples from my own personal life. Self-Concept Psychologist Carl Rogers believes that self-concept is broken down into three main categories: self-image, self-esteem, and ideal self (McLeod, 2008). Begin by asking the question “who am I?” This question could have numerous responses. All these responses collectively help to shape an individual’s self-image or self-concept. Self-concept can be broken down even further into what are known as self-schemas. A self-schema is a way of organizing the world mentally. If being an athlete is important to an individual and makes up one of their schemas, they might be more aware of other’s skills and bodies. They would be able to recall sports experiences and statistics quickly (Myers, 2010). An individual’s self-image is how they see themselves. This does not always reflect reality, as a person who suffers from anorexia and is very thin may see themselves as fat. Social-Self and Self-Esteem The social-self is primarily formed through making social comparisons. This is how people determine where they rank in the scheme of things. Are we rich or poor? Are we smart or dumb? Are we tall or short? These answers come from comparing ourselves to other groups of people and considering the differences (Myers, 2010). There are two different groupings we use to compare ourselves: collectivism and individualism. Collectivism occurs when the
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