EXPLORING THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SELF AND IDENTITY What’s up, friends of the self! Today we’re plunging into the depths of the psyche to explore the fascinating psychology behind self and identity. How do we develop our senses of self? Let’s find out! Defining the Self The self refers to an individual’s awareness of their own identity, including perceptions, thoughts, emotions tied to their sense of self. The self-concept is the total collection of beliefs we hold about ourselves. Self-Schema Theory Self-schema theory proposes we have cognitive frameworks called schemas that organize knowledge and memories about ourselves. Different schemas for different roles like student, employee, friend, etc. Schemas guide how we perceive new self-relevant information and reconstruct memories to align with our self-views. They shape our self-concept. Self-Esteem Self-esteem refers to how positively we evaluate ourselves overall. High self-esteem comes from:  Feeling competent and achieving goals  Feeling accepted and valued by others  Holding moral standards and acting with integrity Looking Glass Self The looking glass self concept says our self-identity stems largely from how we believe others see us and interpret their judgments. We imagine how we appear to others and internalize their assumed judgments as part of our self-concept. Individualist vs. Collectivist Cultures Different cultural orientations affect self-concept: Individualist cultures see the self as stable, separate from context. Self-esteem is based on feeling unique. Collectivist cultures see the self as fluid, defined by roles and relationships. Selfesteem comes from fitting in harmoniously. Growth Mindset Developing a growth mindset enhances self-concept: Viewing personality, intelligence and abilities as changeable through effort allows greater confidence in our potential. We're always evolving! The Takeaway The depths of human selfhood fascinate endlessly. Understanding the psychology behind self and identity provides keys to knowing ourselves better and actualizing our greatest potentials!