Self-awareness - what it is, its structure and methods of development

What is self-awareness

Self-awareness

- this is a person’s understanding of the essence of his own personality, awareness of his place in society and the whole picture of the world. This is the vision and analysis of personal emotions, feelings and motives of behavior.

The peculiarity of self-awareness is that a person figuratively bifurcates:

• on the one hand, he is an object of knowledge for himself;
• on the other hand, consciousness acts as a subject for studying an object.

With the help of self-awareness, we see our emotions, feelings and needs, understand the motivation for our actions and what role we play in society. We recognize ourselves as a separate unit, a personality, but at the same time, embedded in the surrounding objective world.

A person can say about himself: “I am Evgeny Ivanov, I am 47 years old, I am a mechanic. I have parents, a wife and two children. My needs for a roof over my head and food are satisfied. I have friends with whom I spend time fishing and satisfy my need for communication. But I also want to have a car and play tennis, and now I’m working to achieve these goals.”

Of course, the description presented is very primitive, but it reflects the essence of the self-awareness of a person who understands his characteristic features and characteristics that distinguish him from other people.

Sources

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Personal self-awareness in psychology

The concept of self-awareness is so complex and multifaceted that in psychology there is still no single concept of its understanding. Synonyms for the word are: “I am a self,” “I am a concept,” “self-identity.”

The basics of the concept were formulated by S.L. Rubinstein, who pointed out the possibility of self-awareness to understand oneself, the personal environment and the existing structure of relationships with people.

According to S.V. Vygotsky, self-consciousness is formed in a person by the end of adolescence. He connects this process with the ability to reflect (think, ponder), which is formed by the age of seven.

According to the theory of V.S. Merlin's understanding of himself consists of the following components:

• Distinctive features from other subjects and objects.
• Understanding your own emotions, having self-esteem.
• Awareness of oneself as a subject of activity.

Psychologists have identified the following criteria for self-awareness:

1. Isolation of the individual from the environment (material and social).
2. Understanding the ability to control oneself – actions and thoughts.
3. Trying on the visible qualities of other people.
4. The ability to see your needs and the deep motives of your actions.
5. Awareness of one’s own character traits and personality traits, both existing and desired.

In addition, within the framework of self-awareness in psychology, such a factor as attitude towards other people is highlighted; it can also be different.

The egocentric layer assumes that the individual forms an attitude towards others in accordance with their attitude towards themselves. That is, if they love me, then I love, if they respect me, then I will respect.

The group-centric stage of relationships is based on the principle: “If a person belongs to a certain group, then he is correct.” It is assumed that the person himself belongs to this same group.

A prosocial approach ensures understanding of the value of any person and acceptance of him with all his shortcomings.

At the highest, estoholic level, other people are considered as part of the spiritual world, humanity and patience are positioned in relation to any individual.

Structure and functions of self-awareness

Regarding the structure of the concept in psychology, there is also no single approach; several alternatives are considered.

Thus, in the works of V.S. Mukhina’s self-awareness includes: identification of a person with his own property and physical body, gender, self-esteem and claims to evaluation by society.

V.S. Merlin sees the structure of the concept somewhat differently and includes in it:

• Understanding personal mental characteristics.
• Awareness of the “I” as an active subject.
• Recognition of personal identity.
• Assessing one’s own mental qualities from the point of view of moral and ethical rules.

V.V. Stolin defines the following parts of self-understanding: self-esteem, the created image of oneself (body, emotions, feelings), the conflicting essence of one’s “I”.

Summarizing the existing concepts, the structure of self-knowledge can be represented as follows:

1. the cognitive part
   is a person’s awareness of all aspects of his own personality;
2. self-esteem

   – a person’s attitude to his characteristics, both physical and spiritual, emotional;

3. self-regulation

   – a person’s ability, based on knowledge about himself, to control, regulate and correct his behavior and actions.

In addition to different periods of life, the structure of self-understanding also includes:

• "I" today
  . This is an idea of ​​one’s personality at the current moment in time, an awareness of one’s position in reality. We evaluate existing social roles: what kind of worker, husband, father, etc. am I. If the ideal image and the real one do not coincide, experiences may arise.
• "I" is desired
  . These are a person’s ideas about the ideal image to which he strives. This component includes: needs, dreams and desires. It is this “I” that is the main motivator for productive activity.
• “ I” is previous, including an assessment of oneself in the past
  . If a person has had unpleasant or painful experiences early in life, this may hinder the fulfillment of needs in the future.

All of the listed components of self-awareness are interconnected and influence each other.

Functions

The most important function of self-awareness is self-regulation

. Since we have fully identified ourselves, realized resources (positive and negative characteristics, potential, opportunities), understand needs and desires, he can act towards creating his ideal image.

When a person is mistaken about his own needs or inadequately assesses available opportunities, he will not receive satisfaction from his activities. Either he will rush in the wrong direction, or he will not have enough strength and potential to fulfill his desire. In both cases, disappointments and the occurrence of frustrations (strong experiences due to unfulfilled hopes and expectations) are inevitable.

Self-regulation will save a person from pointlessly wasting energy and time on unnecessary goals.

The next function is self-understanding

- This is the formation of individuality. Personality is always unique, each of us is unique. Only we ourselves know what feelings we experience, how we react to difficulties and obstacles, our pain is only our pain.

We have the right to our own perception of life, personal opinion and want to be responsible for our actions. Individuality and uniqueness must be defended throughout life.

Among the main functions are the definition of personal boundaries, self-defense

. We learn to structure our behavior in such a way that we experience less toxic influence from others. Extraordinary individuals are often ostracized (persecuted) in society. Unusual abilities and appearance, one’s own view of things, different from the generally accepted one, often make a person a “black sheep” that his brothers try to peck. A conscious sense of peace and self-confidence allows you to build a strong line of defense.

For example, if a person loves his body, he will not pursue imposed standards of beauty, if he considers it immoral to do mean things, he will not make a career by “setting up” his colleagues, even if this is accepted in the team, etc.

There is such a technique in psychology. If you are confident that you are right and live according to the principles you have developed, then in the event of attacks, imagine yourself as a rubber ball that no one can pinch. It is better to lose a toxic environment than to lose yourself.

Abstract on the topic “I-Concept of Personality”

Abstract topic
“I-Concept of Personality”
Contents

1. The concept of “I” - concepts 2. Formation of “I” - concepts 3. The structure of the Self-concept 4. The role of the Self-concept in the life of an individual 5. Self-esteem as the center of personality 6. Threat Self - concepts List of sources used

1.
The concept of “ I - concepts ”
Originating in foreign psychological literature, in the last decades of the 20th century. the concept of “Self-concept” has firmly entered into everyday life in Russian psychology. However, in the literature there is no single interpretation of this concept; the closest in meaning to it is the concept of “self-awareness”.

“I-concept” is a dynamic system of a person’s ideas about himself, which includes a person’s awareness of his qualities (physical, emotional and intellectual), self-esteem, as well as subjective perception of external factors influencing a given personality.

Psychological dictionaries interpret self-concept as a dynamic system of a person’s ideas about himself. The English psychologist R. Berne, in his book “Development of the Self-Concept and Education,” defines the Self-concept as “the totality of all an individual’s ideas about himself, associated with their assessment.” The self-concept arises in a person in the process of social interaction as an inevitable and always unique result of mental development, as a relatively stable and at the same time mental acquisition subject to internal changes and fluctuations. The initial dependence of the self-concept on external influences is undeniable, but later it plays an independent role in the life of every person. The world around us and ideas about other people are perceived by us through the prism of the self-concept, which is formed in the process of socialization, but also has certain somatic, individual biological determinants.

One of the first theories describing the “I-concept” was the theory of W. James, where two sides of the “I” (Self) were identified - subjective and object. One side of the personality is the “conscious I” (I), and the second is the part that is realized - “I as an object” (Me). In the personality structure, this author identified four components and arranged them in order of importance: from lowest to highest, from physical to spiritual (Table 1).

Table
1. Idea of ​​“ I - concept ” U. James
Component

Description

"Spiritual Self"

"Material Self"

"Social Self"

"Physical Self"

Internal and subjective existence of a person. A set of his religious, political, philosophical and moral attitudes

adjustments and improvements. Find out the cost of your work

What a person identifies with himself (his home, private property, family, friends, etc.)

Recognition and respect that a person receives in society, his social role

The human body, its primary biological needs

The final formation of ideas about the “I-concept” occurred in the 1950s in line with humanistic psychology. The example below highlights the main provisions of C. Rogers’ “I-concept”.

• “Self-concept” is the idea and inner essence of an individual, which gravitates toward values ​​that have cultural origins.
• “I-concept” is stable and provides stable ways of human behavior.
• The self-concept has individuality and uniqueness.
• A person’s perception of the world around him is refracted by his consciousness, the center of which is the “I-concept”.
• The discrepancy between the individual’s experience and his “I-concept” is neutralized with the help of psychological defense mechanisms.
• “I-concept” is close to the concept of “self-awareness”, but rather “I-concept” is the result of self-awareness.
• “I-concept” arises as a result of mental development in the process of social interaction with the environment. The social environment (as opposed to genetic factors) plays a decisive influence on the formation of the “I-concept”, but then the “I-concept” begins to determine the way a person interacts with the social environment.

2.
Formation of the individual’s self - concept
The relationship between a person and the world is rich and diverse. In the system of these relationships, he has to act in different capacities, in different roles, and be the subject of a wide variety of activities. And from every interaction with the world of things and the world of people, a person “takes out” the image of his Self. In the process of self-analysis, the division of individual specific images of his Self into their constituent formations - external and internal psychological characteristics - there is, as it were, an internal discussion with oneself about one’s personality. Each time, as a result of self-analysis, according to S.L. Rubinstein, the image of one’s self “is included in ever new connections and, because of this, appears in ever new qualities, which are fixed in new concepts... it seems to turn the other side each time, new properties are revealed in it.”

Thus, a generalized image of one’s Self gradually emerges, which seems to be fused from many individual specific images of the Self in the course of self-perception, introspection and introspection. This generalized image of one’s self, arising from individual, situational images, contains general, characteristic features and ideas about one’s essence and is expressed in the concept of oneself, or self-concept. In contrast to situational images of the Self, the Self-concept creates in a person a feeling of his constancy and self-identity.

The self-concept formed in the process of self-knowledge at the same time is not something given once and for all, frozen; it is characterized by constant internal movement. Its maturity and adequacy are tested and corrected by practice. The self-concept significantly influences the entire structure of the psyche, worldview as a whole, and determines the main line of human behavior.

3.
The structure of the self - concept
R. Berne (like many domestic psychologists) identifies three components in the structure of the self-concept: cognitive, evaluative and behavioral. The cognitive component, or self-image, includes the individual's ideas about himself. The evaluative component, or self-esteem, includes an affective evaluation of this self-image. The behavioral component includes potential behavioral reactions or specific actions that can be caused by knowledge about oneself and attitude towards oneself. This division of the self-concept into components is arbitrary; in fact, the self-concept is a holistic formation, all components of which, although they have relative independence, are closely interconnected.

4.
The role of the I - concept in the life of the individual
“I-concept” plays an important role in the life of the individual (Fig. 2). This is primarily manifested in its following functions.

1. Ensuring internal consistency of the personality. Any environmental influences are compared with the “I-concept” of the individual, and if they do not correspond to it, they are distorted or repressed using psychological defense mechanisms that protect the integrity and constancy of the “I-concept”.
2. Determining the nature of the interpretation of life experience. The “I-concept” acts as an internal filter that allows information to pass through itself or delays it if it contradicts the “I-concept”.
3. The source of attitudes and expectations of the individual. “Self-concept” determines the forecasts and expectations of the individual (confident or uncertain behavior, high or low self-esteem). Each of these attitudes can be realized in three aspects: physical, emotional, social (Fig. 3). For example, in the physical aspect, a woman may not be satisfied with her appearance (“Real Self”), and she will strive to change it with the help of cosmetics, approaching her ideal of beauty (“Ideal Self”), while she is quite satisfied with her social position (“Real Self”). At the same time, she may think that others consider her too cold and little emotional (“Mirror Self”).

The reality of a person’s “I-concept” is determined by the following factors:

• clarity of individual self-awareness and the presence of adequate symbols for its expression;
• a sense of personal adequacy of the individual;
• the individual’s lack of a sense of threat in a situation of self-description.

5.
Self-esteem as the center of personality
Self-esteem refers to the central formations of personality, its core. Self-esteem largely determines the social adaptation of an individual and is a regulator of behavior and activity. Although, of course, one should be aware that self-esteem is not something given, initially inherent in the individual. The formation of self-esteem itself occurs in the process of socialization, in the process of activity and interpersonal interaction. Society greatly influences the formation of an individual’s self-esteem. A person’s relationship to himself is the most recent formation in the system of a person’s relationship to the world. But, despite this (or perhaps precisely because of this), self-esteem has a particularly important place in the structure of personality relationships.

Self-esteem is directly related to the process of social adaptation and maladaptation of the individual. Despite all the inconsistency of modern data on the self-esteem of juvenile delinquents, ideas about the connection between self-esteem and antisocial and delinquent behavior of a teenager are almost universally accepted. The debate mainly boils down to clarifying the nature of the offender’s self-esteem - overestimated or underestimated. The most common position, based on empirical research, is the position that both adolescent delinquents and adult offenders have inflated self-esteem. In this regard, it is noted that inadequate, inflated self-esteem associated with social maladjustment of the individual creates a fairly wide area of ​​conflict situations and, under certain conditions, contributes to the manifestation of delinquent behavior.

However, there is another point of view, also based on experimental data. According to its supporters, the level of self-esteem among juvenile delinquents is lower than among law-abiding adolescents. The majority of studies in which opposite results were obtained, according to supporters of this concept, are methodologically incorrect. A number of studies have shown that young criminals and those who come to the attention of public organizations dealing with “difficult” teenagers have a negative self-concept. Works in this direction indicate that an unfavorable self-concept (weak self-confidence, fear of rejection, low self-esteem), having arisen, subsequently leads to behavioral disorders. At the same time, the following effects of an unfavorable self-concept are identified (X. Remschmidt).

1. Decreased self-esteem and often, as a consequence, social degradation, aggressiveness and crime.
2. Stimulation of conformist reactions in difficult situations. Such young people are easily influenced by the group and are drawn into criminal activities.
3. A profound change in perception. Thus, young people with negative self-esteem have difficulty recognizing that they are doing good things, because they consider themselves incapable of them.

6.
Threat to Self - Concept
Even the most mentally healthy person sometimes encounters an experience that threatens his Self-concept, and is forced to falsely interpret or deny the experience. Likewise, most people have adequate defenses to cope with moderate levels of anxiety and to act in ways that minimize it. However, when experiences are completely inconsistent with the self-structure, or when discordant experiences occur frequently, the person experiences severe anxiety, which can seriously disrupt daily routine. A person in this condition is usually called "neurotic" (although Rogers himself avoided using such diagnostic labels). In such cases, the person's level of internal discomfort is such that he probably needs the help of a psychotherapist. Nevertheless, the neurotic's defense can still partly prevent the symbolization of threatening experiences in consciousness. As a result, the ego-structure of the neurotic remains almost unharmed, but such a person cannot consciously assess the instability of his condition; he is very vulnerable in a psychological sense.

According to Rogers, if there is a significant discrepancy between the self and current experiences, then the defense of the self may become ineffective. In such a “defenseless” state, inappropriate experiences are precisely symbolized in the consciousness, and the person’s self-concept is destroyed. Thus, personality disorders and psychopathology appear when the self cannot protect itself from the onslaught of threatening experiences. People with such disorders are usually called "psychotics." Their behavior appears strange, illogical, or “crazy” to an objective observer. Rogers believed that psychotic behavior often corresponds to the denied aspects of the experience rather than the self concept. For example, a person who strictly controls aggressive impulses, denying that they are part of his self-image, may behave in an overtly threatening manner towards those whom he encounters in reality in a psychotic state. Irrational and self-destructive behavior is often associated with psychosis.

Rogers proposed that personality disorders may appear either suddenly or gradually over a long period of time. In any case, as soon as a serious discrepancy between the “I” and the experience appears, the person’s defense ceases to work adequately, and the previously integral I-structure is destroyed. When this happens, the person becomes extremely vulnerable to anxiety and threat and behaves in a way that is incomprehensible not only to others, but also to himself. In fact, Rogers believed that conduct disorders resulted from a discrepancy between the self and experience. The significance of the discrepancy between the conscious “I” and the experience determines the severity of psychological maladjustment.

Thus, the development of personality, its activities and behavior are significantly influenced by the self-concept.

List of sources used

1. “Self-concept” by W. James 2. “Development of self-concept and education” by R. Berne 3. C. Rogers’ theory of self-concept 4. Electronic source – https://pro-psixology.ru/obshhaya- psixologiya/1029-ya-koncepciya-lichnosti.html 5. Electronic source – https://psyera.ru/ya-koncepciya-2109.htm

Forms and levels of human self-awareness

Self-awareness manifests itself in four forms, let's look at each of them.

Self-knowledge

This concept means identifying oneself among other people and the world around us, recognizing personal qualities, the physical body, and potential.

Self-awareness comes through:

• Self-observation of the results of one’s activities, the results of communication with the environment and analysis of the compliance of the results with accepted standards.
• Understanding the assessments of other people about their personality and actions, their attitudes.
• Analysis of your feelings, emotions and needs, and their transformations.

The result of self-knowledge is the formation of a system of ideas about oneself.

Self-control

A person has the opportunity, after analyzing his essence and behavior, to correct them. Any actions and psychological states can be changed if, in the opinion of the person himself, they contradict his attitudes, do not give the desired results, or come into conflict with the outside world.

Self-esteem

Self-esteem expresses the degree to which a person accepts his qualities, characteristics and characteristics. The perception itself reveals the level of love and respect for oneself.

Adequate self-esteem characterizes a self-confident person, capable of making decisions and purposeful actions. When low, we see a person dependent on the opinions of others, with a pronounced sense of guilt and a lot of complexes. An overestimation of personal qualities reveals a person who is self-confident, arrogant, and does not accept any criticism.

To achieve life goals, self-esteem should be developed to a normal level; in psychology there are many exercises to increase the degree of self-love.

Self-acceptance

This form of self-awareness involves:

• Accepting yourself as a unique individual, without unjustified criticism and self-deprecation.
• Self-respect.

Self-esteem comes from achieving goals and satisfying aspirations. A person sets records in sports, quits smoking, finishes writing a novel - his self-esteem increases, which has a good effect on self-esteem.

In addition to forms, psychology considers 4 levels of self-perception:

• Sensual
  . This is the lowest level at which one’s psychological characteristics, experiences, and physiological processes are understood. This is the stage of self-identification.
• Figurative and personal
  . Gives recognition of oneself as a subject of active activity. Self-actualization occurs, maintaining the identity of “I”.
• Analytical (otherwise reflexive)
  . A person analyzes and clarifies his thoughts and actions, observes the manifestation of emotions in critical states, analyzes committed mistakes and failures, and draws conclusions.
• Active
  . Based on the results and experience of the first three stages, self-regulation, motivation, correction of behavioral structures and self-control occur. This is a stage of personal change based on self-knowledge.

Going through all four levels of self-awareness indicates the maturity of the individual; getting stuck on one of them requires further development.

Pathological forms of the problem

Considering the concept of self-awareness in psychology, one cannot help but note pathological forms, through the fault of which self-awareness, and then consciousness, can completely collapse. Some disorders can affect personality development in a similar way:

1. The process of depersonalization. It is characterized by the loss of one’s own “I”. In this case, a person begins to look at the processes occurring within himself and at external events as an outside observer. He does not perceive himself from the position of an active subject.
2. Splitting the foundations. In this case, dissociation is implied. The core is divided into several elements that have alien properties. They are capable of conflicting with each other. There is a known case when 24 personalities coexisted in a person at once. They had separate memories, different interests and motives. Each had its own values ​​and character. Even the voice was different. And each personality considered itself true; others simply did not exist for it.
3. There may be disturbances in determining one's own body. In this situation, a person is able to perceive his own limbs as strangers.
4. Derealization. In this situation, there is a loss of connection with reality. Doubts arise about current events and about the existence of oneself. This disorder is the most severe of all of the above.

How self-awareness is formed

The process of developing self-awareness is accurately described in the works of V.S. Mukhina in correlation with the development of the child’s psyche.

At the first stage, a person’s idea of ​​his name is formed. First, he hears it from the lips of his parents and begins to identify himself accordingly. Thanks to the name, the child realizes himself as a person, an individual. Then the surname and patronymic are added, and the specification intensifies.

In the early school period, the name may change, other interpretations and nicknames of comrades appear. In youth, many come up with other names for themselves, associating their personality with them. During this period, there are cases of changing your passport data.

The next need for self-awareness is ideas about the body, formed first through the attitude of the close environment (parents, grandparents), and then using the traditions and cultural orientations existing in the family.

The need for recognition also occurs in early childhood. The baby learns what is good and bad, what is allowed and what is not allowed. Encouraging good deeds and good behavior leads to the desire to perform approved actions.

If demands for recognition are not satisfied by adults, the child develops negative qualities - lies, aggression, lack of self-confidence, and complexes appear.

During puberty, a teenager develops a gender identity. Of course, whether a child is a boy or a girl is determined by the age of three; a little later, stereotypes of male or female behavior appear.

In the process of self-understanding, a person develops an idea of ​​social space, i.e. conditions in which growth and development occurs:

• style and lifestyle;
• cultural and ethical values;
• moral standards;
• attitude towards religion, etc.

In adolescence, a person strives to master the widest possible social space (from a group of comrades in the yard to the sphere of politics). During this same period, reflection on the inner world deepens in order to understand one’s needs and place in society.

The main signs of the development of self-awareness are: the presence of a holistic idea of ​​oneself, self-respect, self-acceptance, awareness of love, discovery of the inner world.

The relationship between self-esteem and self-concept

Photo by Antonio Friedemann: Pexels
Self-concept influences the development of various individual competencies. Depending on what experience and feedback a person has received, this influences the further use of his own qualities. If he receives positive feedback more often, this encourages him to stick to his competence and expand it.

In case of failure or negative feedback, this can lead to a biased and cautious approach to these competencies. Skills and abilities are stored in self-esteem. Since this, in turn, affects the future management of one’s own internal potential, we can talk about the mutual interaction of competencies and self-concept.

The division into cognitive and affective levels illustrates the difference between self-esteem and self-concept.

At the cognitive level, ideas about one’s own personality are collected from individual situations, and a higher (supra-situational) self-esteem is formed. Here the question arises: how do I see myself? Examples: “I’m not good at doing this” or “Other people are just like me.”

At the affective level, a person evaluates individual situations and uses them to create an excessive sense of self-worth. The key question here is: how am I doing? How do I feel? Examples: “It doesn’t matter if I can’t do something well, because I get pleasure from others” or “I am happy and proud when others like me.”

Psychology. Concept, structure and functions of the “I” concept.

Self-esteem is an assessment of how one feels about oneself, which can have a major impact on thoughts, mood, and (learning) behavior. Through actions and experiences, people learn about their reality and develop an understanding of the possibilities of their influence on things.

These learning experiences then turn into control beliefs. Examples: “If I try hard, I can do something better than everyone else” or “No matter what I do, I just can’t create something better than everyone else.”

Developing Self Awareness

Self-awareness appears in a child in early infancy, and by adolescence it is fully formed. However, this does not mean that you do not need to engage in self-perception throughout your life.

Changes occur in the objective world and subjective characteristics. These changes require observation and self-knowledge.

The first step is to analyze the current external and internal situations and re-recognize yourself and your attitude to changes. For example, with age, the body begins to age and our attitude towards it, formed in early periods, will also change. On the one hand, it is required to take greater care of physical health, on the other hand, to be able to accept age-related changes without unnecessary worries, with dignity.

It is also important to bring self-esteem to an adequate (normal) state. Throughout life, the level of love and self-respect may change due to external reasons or the attitude of loved ones. You cannot allow circumstances to sow doubts about your self-confidence.

And lastly, it is necessary to promptly adjust needs and actions according to life changes. It is impossible to stop at knowing about yourself; taking the same actions that do not lead to success is not constructive. Therefore, the process of self-awareness is permanent and ends only after the physical death of a person.