Factors Affecting Self-Concept and Esteem

Factors Affecting Self-Concept, Esteem, and Confidence

• Individual Factors:

  • Self-acceptance and recognition: A lack of self-acceptance and recognition of one's personal characteristics, like appearance, personality, abilities, and values, leads to lower self-esteem and self-confidence.
  • Example: Alice, who compares herself unfavorably to peers, lacks self-acceptance and recognition, impacting self-esteem.

• Family Factors:

  • Parenting style and family attitudes: Parenting styles and family attitudes significantly influence self-evaluation. Little attention to children's feelings can result in lower self-esteem and self-confidence. Conversely, parents who care about their children's feelings can cultivate feelings of worth and respect, boosting self-esteem.
  • Example: Judy's low self-esteem stems from her parents' inconsistent attention and lack of fulfillment of promises, leading to a lack of trust and a diminished sense of security in their relationship.

• Peer Factors:

  • Social acceptance and peer relationships: Feeling accepted and valued among peers positively impacts self-concept. Rejection or criticism can negatively affect it.
  • Example: Sam, who struggles to relate to classmates, lacks social acceptance impacting his self-concept, esteem, and confidence.

• Academic Performance:

  • Relationship with success: Academic performance directly affects self-perception. Positive experiences and recognition for good performance boost self-esteem and confidence, while poor performance may cause doubt.
  • Example: Jim's poor academic performance lowered his self-esteem due to a lack of perceived competence.

• Societal Factors:

  • Media influence and social norms: Mass media often presents idealized images impacting self-perception. If individuals feel that they do not conform to societal standards in areas such as physical appearance or behavior, self-esteem may suffer.
  • Example: Ling, comparing herself to idealized media images, feels inadequate leading to low self-esteem due to media influence.
  • Socioeconomic factors and background: Family background and socioeconomic status also influence self-perception, as they can shape expectations and opportunities.