Self image
Encyclopedia
A person's self-image is the mental
picture, generally of a kind that is quite resistant to change, that depicts not only details that are potentially available to objective investigation by others (height, weight, hair color, gender
, I.Q. score, etc.), but also items that have been learned by that person about himself or herself, either from personal experiences or by internalizing the judgments of others.
A simple definition of a person's self-image is their answer to this question - "What do you believe people think about you?".
Self-image may consist of three types:
These three types may or may not be an accurate representation of the person. All, some or none of them may be true.
A more technical term for self-image that is commonly used by social and cognitive psychologists is self-schema
. Like any schema
, self-schemas store information and influence the way we think and remember. For example, research indicates that information which refers to the self is preferentially encoded and recalled in memory tests, a phenomenon known as "Self-referential encoding
".
Poor self-image is not always caused by other people. The person may be often told he or she is beautiful/pretty/handsome but cannot personally see it.
Negative self-images can arise from a variety of factors. A prominent factor, however, is personality type. Perfectionists
, high achievers, and those with "type A
" personalities seem to be prone to having negative self-images.This is because such people constantly set the standard for success high above a reasonable, attainable level. Thus, they are constantly disappointed in this "failure."
may be the way individuals maintain their self-image. When individuals evaluated a member of a stereotyped group, they were less likely to evaluate that person negatively if their self-images had been bolstered trough a self-affirmation procedure, and they were more likely to evaluate that person stereotypically if their self-images had been threatened by negative feedback. Individuals may restore their self-esteem by derogating the member of a stereotyped group.
as projecting a certain physical appearance
, or certain position of social entitlement, or lack thereof. The term was used at least as early as 1968, but was popularized in fiction by the Matrix series, where persons who existed in a digitally created world would subconsciously maintain the physical appearance that they had become accustomed to projecting.
and manipulation
often get trapped into a self-image of victimisation
. The psychological profile of victimisation includes a pervasive sense of helplessness, passivity, loss of control
, pessimism
, negative thinking, strong feelings of guilt
, shame
, self-blame and depression
. This way of thinking can lead to hopelessness and despair.
Mind
The concept of mind is understood in many different ways by many different traditions, ranging from panpsychism and animism to traditional and organized religious views, as well as secular and materialist philosophies. Most agree that minds are constituted by conscious experience and intelligent...
picture, generally of a kind that is quite resistant to change, that depicts not only details that are potentially available to objective investigation by others (height, weight, hair color, gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
, I.Q. score, etc.), but also items that have been learned by that person about himself or herself, either from personal experiences or by internalizing the judgments of others.
A simple definition of a person's self-image is their answer to this question - "What do you believe people think about you?".
Self-image may consist of three types:
- Self-image resulting from how the individual sees himself or herself.
- Self-image resulting from how others see the individual.
- Self-image resulting from how the individual perceives others see him or her.
These three types may or may not be an accurate representation of the person. All, some or none of them may be true.
A more technical term for self-image that is commonly used by social and cognitive psychologists is self-schema
Self-Schema
The term self-schema refers to the beliefs and ideas people have about themselves. These beliefs are used to guide and organize information processing, especially when the information is significant to the self. Self-schemas are important to a person's overall self-concept.- General self-schema...
. Like any schema
Schema (psychology)
A schema , in psychology and cognitive science, describes any of several concepts including:* An organized pattern of thought or behavior.* A structured cluster of pre-conceived ideas....
, self-schemas store information and influence the way we think and remember. For example, research indicates that information which refers to the self is preferentially encoded and recalled in memory tests, a phenomenon known as "Self-referential encoding
Self-referential encoding
Investigations into the relationship between memory and the self originated in the field of personality. Theorists held that an individual’s personality included something akin to a "directory" of traits attached to the self, and that the way they interact with others uses this directory as a...
".
Poor self-image
Poor self-image may be the result of accumulated criticisms that the person collected as a child which have led to damaging his own view of themself. Children in particular are vulnerable to accepting negative judgments from authority figures because they have yet to develop competency in evaluating such reports.Poor self-image is not always caused by other people. The person may be often told he or she is beautiful/pretty/handsome but cannot personally see it.
Negative self-images can arise from a variety of factors. A prominent factor, however, is personality type. Perfectionists
Perfectionism (psychology)
Perfectionism, in psychology, is a belief that a state of completeness and flawlessness can and should be attained. In its pathological form, perfectionism is a belief that work or output that is anything less than perfect is unacceptable...
, high achievers, and those with "type A
Type A personality
Originally published in the 1950s, the Type A and Type B personality theory is a theory which describes two common, contrasting personality types—the high-strung Type A and the easy-going Type B—as patterns of behavior that could either raise or lower, respectively, one's chances of developing...
" personalities seem to be prone to having negative self-images.This is because such people constantly set the standard for success high above a reasonable, attainable level. Thus, they are constantly disappointed in this "failure."
Self-image maintenance
When people were in the position of evaluating others, self-image maintenance processes can lead to a more negative evaluation depends on the self-image of the evaluator. That is to say stereotyping and prejudicePrejudice
Prejudice is making a judgment or assumption about someone or something before having enough knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy, or "judging a book by its cover"...
may be the way individuals maintain their self-image. When individuals evaluated a member of a stereotyped group, they were less likely to evaluate that person negatively if their self-images had been bolstered trough a self-affirmation procedure, and they were more likely to evaluate that person stereotypically if their self-images had been threatened by negative feedback. Individuals may restore their self-esteem by derogating the member of a stereotyped group.
Residual self-image
Residual self-image is the concept that individuals tend to think of themselvesSelf (psychology)
The psychology of self is the study of either the cognitive and affective representation of one's identity or the subject of experience. The earliest formulation of the self in modern psychology derived from the distinction between the self as I, the subjective knower, and the self as Me, the...
as projecting a certain physical appearance
Human physical appearance
Human physical appearance refers to the outward phenotype or look of human beings. There are infinite variations in human phenotypes, though society reduces the variability to distinct categories...
, or certain position of social entitlement, or lack thereof. The term was used at least as early as 1968, but was popularized in fiction by the Matrix series, where persons who existed in a digitally created world would subconsciously maintain the physical appearance that they had become accustomed to projecting.
Self-image of victimisation
Victims of abuseAbuse
Abuse is the improper usage or treatment for a bad purpose, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, sexual assault, violation, rape, unjust practices; wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime, or otherwise...
and manipulation
Psychological manipulation
Psychological manipulation is a type of social influence that aims to change the perception or behavior of others through underhanded, deceptive, or even abusive tactics. By advancing the interests of the manipulator, often at the other's expense, such methods could be considered exploitative,...
often get trapped into a self-image of victimisation
Victimisation
Victimisation is the process of being victimised or becoming a victim. Research that studies the process, rates, incidence, and prevalence of victimization falls under the body of victimology.-Peer victimisation:...
. The psychological profile of victimisation includes a pervasive sense of helplessness, passivity, loss of control
Locus of control
Locus of control is a theory in personality psychology referring to the extent to which individuals believe that they can control events that affect them. Understanding of the concept was developed by Julian B...
, pessimism
Pessimism
Pessimism, from the Latin word pessimus , is a state of mind in which one perceives life negatively. Value judgments may vary dramatically between individuals, even when judgments of fact are undisputed. The most common example of this phenomenon is the "Is the glass half empty or half full?"...
, negative thinking, strong feelings of guilt
Guilt
Guilt is the state of being responsible for the commission of an offense. It is also a cognitive or an emotional experience that occurs when a person realizes or believes—accurately or not—that he or she has violated a moral standard, and bears significant responsibility for that...
, shame
Shame
Shame is, variously, an affect, emotion, cognition, state, or condition. The roots of the word shame are thought to derive from an older word meaning to cover; as such, covering oneself, literally or figuratively, is a natural expression of shame....
, self-blame and depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
. This way of thinking can lead to hopelessness and despair.
Children’s self-image disparity
Self-image disparity was found to be positively related to chronological age (CA) and intelligence, two factors thought to increase concomitantly with maturity: Capacity for guilt and ability for cognitive differentiation. However, males had larger self-image disparities than females Whites had larger disparities and higher ideal self images than Blacks, and SES (socioeconomic status) affected self-images differentially for the 2nd and 5th graders.See also
- Body imageBody imageBody image refers to a person's perception of the aesthetics and sexual attractiveness of their own body. The phrase body image was first coined by the Austrian neurologist and psychoanalyst Paul Schilder in his masterpiece The Image and Appearance of the Human Body...
- Face (self image)Face (self image)Face, idiomatically meaning dignity/prestige, is a fundamental concept in the fields of sociology, sociolinguistics, semantics, politeness theory, psychology, political science, communication, and Face Negotiation Theory.-Definitions:...
- Figure rating scaleFigure rating scaleThe figure rating scale is a psychometric scale developed in the 1950s as a tool to determine body dissatisfaction in women, men, and children. Each figure presents nine silhouettes, ranging from very thin to very large, and the participant is asked to select the one that best indicates his or her...
- List of basic self topics
- Positive mental attitudePositive Mental AttitudeThe concept of a "Positive Mental Attitude" was first introduced by Napoleon Hill in his book, "Think and Grow Rich" in 1937. He later went on to write several other books including "Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude"....
- Self-conceptSelf-conceptSelf-concept is a multi-dimensional construct that refers to an individual's perception of "self" in relation to any number of characteristics, such as academics , gender roles and sexuality, racial identity, and many others. Each of these characteristics is a research domain Self-concept (also...
- Self-esteemSelf-esteemSelf-esteem is a term in psychology to reflect a person's overall evaluation or appraisal of his or her own worth. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs and emotions such as triumph, despair, pride and shame: some would distinguish how 'the self-concept is what we think about the self; self-esteem, the...
- Self (psychology)Self (psychology)The psychology of self is the study of either the cognitive and affective representation of one's identity or the subject of experience. The earliest formulation of the self in modern psychology derived from the distinction between the self as I, the subjective knower, and the self as Me, the...
- Self-schemaSelf-SchemaThe term self-schema refers to the beliefs and ideas people have about themselves. These beliefs are used to guide and organize information processing, especially when the information is significant to the self. Self-schemas are important to a person's overall self-concept.- General self-schema...