Stage 1 Psychology Emergence of self

Understanding Self Self Understanding Self Understanding Seeing yourself as a unique individual Seeing yourself as a unique individual Self Concept The mental ideas we form of ourselves How do these change over time?

Understanding Self Psychological and social descriptions of self Birth6 Years4 Years2 Years8 Years10 Years Self Recognition (Visual) (Self recognition in animals Box page 364) Physical descriptions of self School Age Children Preschool Children Infancy

Understanding Self Abstract, internal, contextual descriptions Identity concerns Positive and negative – more balanced Multiple domains – global picture Social comparison decreases, ideals and values increases 10 Years16 Years14 Years12 Years18 Years20 Years Increasingly abstract and differentiated Identity concerns Real and ideal self Positive and negative (not balanced) Less open social comparisons Adolescence Early Adolescence

Self description 3-4 years I live with my mum and my grandma and my sister in a little blue house. I have a big orange fish for a pet. I love icecream, especially chocolate! I don’t have a TV in my room. I have brown hair and I have brown eyes too. I go to preschool. I can jump really high – watch me! I know all my numbers up to 100. Listen 1,2,3... Look for: Physical information (I have brown hair) Evaluations (I’m good/bad at…, I like/dislike… ) Causation (… because… ) Negative/positive aspects – overgeneralisations or balance Social comparisons Identity:Real and ideal self Subcategories of self Future self

Self Esteem Seeing our self concept in relation to a set of standards Seeing our self concept in relation to a set of standards Positive or high self esteem Positive or high self esteem Negative or low self esteem Negative or low self esteem What influences self esteem? What influences self esteem? Does self esteem change over time? Does self esteem change over time? Self concept (schema of self) Set of standards

Self Esteem and Age Stable overall from 8-10 years into adulthood But temporary fluctuations differentiation Greater differentiation in adults Achievements Mental abilities Interpersonal skills Physical Skills Social responsibility Transition1520 Self esteem in Adolescent years

Self Esteem and Gender Initial similarity Initial similarity Larger drop in self esteem for girls in adolescence to adulthood Larger drop in self esteem for girls in adolescence to adulthood Transition1520 Self esteem in Adolescent years

Self Esteem and Gender Body image important, particularly for girls Body image important, particularly for girls

Summary concepts Self understanding Self understanding Self descriptions Self descriptions Self concept Self concept Self Esteem Self Esteem Age Age Gender Gender Body image Body image