Understanding Self-Concept

The self-concept refers to the sum total of beliefs individuals have about themselves, structured through self-schemas.

The self-concept consists of cognitive units called self-schemas—beliefs about oneself that shape how self-relevant information is processed.

An attribute may be central to the self-concept for some individuals but not for others.

For instance, individuals who are schematic about weight emphasize body image, while individuals who are aschematic about body weight pay little attention.

The self-concept acts as a library of self-schemas, allowing people to see themselves in various ways, like masculine or introverted.

Research shows that self-concept development begins early, with infants and some nonhuman animals showing early signs of self-recognition.

Furthermore, individuals, such as African Americans, may hold distinct self-schemas aligned with both mainstream American culture and African American culture, resulting in a sense of double consciousness about their identity.

Finally, bilinguals may display double personalities depending on the language they use and the context in which they speak it.