Self-Development and Self-Concept in Adolescence

Study Notes

Self-Development and Self-Concept

Self-concept refers to the awareness of oneself, involving the negotiation between the ideal self and the actual self.
Ideal self is the self that one aspires to be, with characteristics similar to a mentor or a worldly figure.
Actual self is the self that one actually sees, with characteristics developed through nurturing or born with.
Self-concept encompasses all the behaviors evaluated in the actual self to reach the ideal self.

Actual Self vs. Ideal Self

Actual self is built on self-knowledge, which is derived from social interactions that provide insight into how others react to us.
Actual self is our self-image, which can be seen by others but is subjective due to our limited understanding of others' views.
Ideal self is an idealized image developed over time based on learning, experience, and societal influences.
Ideal self includes components of parental teachings, admired traits in others, and what is perceived as being in our best interest.

Negotiation between Actual Self and Ideal Self

Negotiation between the two selves exists, which is complex due to numerous exchanges between them.
Social roles are adjusted and readjusted based on social interactions from infancy to adulthood, with alignment being important.
Incongruence, or lack of alignment, between the two selves can result in mental distress or anxiety.

Personal Effectiveness

Personal effectiveness involves the use of all personal resources, including talents, skills, energy, and time, to achieve life goals.
Talent is the first thing to be identified and developed to be used in a particular subject area.
Experience includes knowledge and skills acquired through cognitive and practical activities.
Knowledge is required for setting goals, defining action plans, and risk management.
Skills determine whether real actions are performed in accordance with the plan and become a habit when repeated.

Skills that Increase Efficiency

Determination involves focus without being distracted.
Self-confidence is gained through a positive attitude and belief that manifests in speech, appearance, dressing, gait, and physical condition.
Persistence involves keeping moving forward despite obstacles.
Managing stress helps combat mental fatigue.
Problem-solving involves coping with encountered problems with a lack of experience.
Creativity involves finding ways to carry out an action.
Generating ideas involves using new thoughts using mental images.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Failure usually emanates from weaknesses that are not recognized or not given appropriate attention or remedy.
Instead of giving up or having self-pity, take action, work on weaknesses, and recognize and build on talents and abilities.
A handicap is a physical, mental, or social condition affecting a person that may limit one's ability in the affected area, but it should not be a source of discouragement.

Taking Charge of the Future

There are three kinds of people in this world: moviegoers, actors, and directors.
Moviegoers watch the movie of their lives, admire some parts, and criticize others, but do nothing else.
Actors not only watch but also control a big part of their lives, can make or break a movie by portraying a character, but have no say in the overall direction of their lives.

Description

Explore the concepts of self-development and self-concept during middle and late adolescence. Learn about the ideal self, actual self, and how self-concept influences personal growth and identity formation.