Communication and Personal Identity

 

 Definitions: Our self concept (how we understand our self)  is composed of two aspects.

1.                  Self image - how we see ourselves

2.                  Self esteem - how we evaluate ourselves

 

Sources of information for our self concept - "The self arises in communication with others."

1. Significant others define you for yourself

   1. direct definition

   2. identity scripts  - patterns others create for us to follow

    

2. Peers define you for yourself

   "social comparison" of self to other - "reflected appraisal"
    

3. Generalized others  - elements of personal identity defined as important by our societ

   • gender

   • race/ethnicity

   • sexual orientation

   • economic class

4. Self-fulfilling Prophecy - Believing something is true makes it come true when it otherwise would not.   (e.g.,  Believing "I'm bad at tests." (a part of self concept) causes a low score.)

The self in Multi-dimensional

The self is a Process - It can and does change over time

The self develops Social Interactions and from familiar categories, icnluding:

 

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Homework for Discussion on Tuesday