Paper Title
Identity, Self-Concept, and Self-Esteem: The Self Lost and Found
Keywords
- Identity
- Self-Concept
- Self-Esteem
- Self-Knowledge
- Self-Definition
- Identity Crisis
- Identity Deficits
- Identity Conflicts
- Personal Commitments
- Emotional States
- Psychological Experiences
- Self-Development
- Social Identity
- Self-Expression
- Motivation
- Anxiety Defense
- Emotional Well-being
Research Impact Tools
Publication Info
Volume: Chapter 26 | Pages: 681-710
Published On
March, 1997
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Abstract
This chapter focuses on the identity, self-concept, and self-esteem. The self begins with simple and universal psychological experiences, such as having a body and being a distinct member of a social unit. The importance of cultivating a well-developed, unique, expressive, and successful self— links the self to a variety of powerful motivations. These are both positive and negative. On the positive side, people are very interested in self-knowledge. They desire to learn about themselves. On the negative side, the self is associated with a variety of threats and problems. When people discover a difference between the way they are and the way they want or ought to be, they suffer a variety of unpleasant emotions. Self-esteem plays an important role in defending the individual against anxiety, and so threats to self-esteem may trigger acutely aversive emotional states. Identity crises appear to be the symptom of the modern emphasis on requiring each person to create and define his or her own identity. The term “identity” refers to the definitions that are created for and superimposed on the self. There are at least two major types of identity crisis. Identity deficits begin when the person rejects the values and behavior patterns that have shaped his or her life. Identity conflicts arise in conflicting situations that require the person to betray some personal commitments or self-definitions.
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