Self-Concept

A person continuously seeks to understand and define their identity, a process that becomes particularly urgent during adolescence and continues throughout life as they and their environment undergo changes.

An individual's perception of themselves is unique but subject to modification under the influence of environmental and social factors, as well as the opinions of others. A person may sometimes see themselves positively and at other times negatively. However, in general, they maintain a relatively stable self-concept.

A person's cultural environment, along with their life experiences, significantly contributes to shaping their personality or identity. From an early age, a child begins to form their identity by imitating significant figures in their surroundings. They may simultaneously emulate their mother, father, a sibling, or a teacher, resulting in a fragmented personality with conflicting roles.

During adolescence, due to limited life experience, individuals often struggle with uncertainty in their quest for self-actualization and identity formation. They may display contradictory behaviors, such as being independent yet reliant on others, bold yet fearful, defiant yet submissive, and serious yet indifferent. Eventually, they must break free from this oscillation and from merely replicating others to develop their own unique identity, moving beyond this transitional phase.

This development occurs as they gain more life experiences and are exposed to the cultural, ethical, and religious concepts of their society. If everything progresses smoothly, they emerge from this transitional phase with a well-established personal identity.

Self-Actualization

An individual's self is shaped by the experiences they undergo. The evaluation of oneself begins in childhood and gradually develops alongside the aspiration to attain an ideal self. Most people strive to achieve a realistic self that aligns with their abilities, experiences, and level of adaptation to their environment rather than pursuing an unattainable ideal self.

Utilizing one's latent potential helps develop the true self into a realistic self that fosters inner harmony and peace.

The American psychologist Abraham Maslow states that humans are born with an innate drive to satisfy basic hierarchical needs. These start with physiological needs such as hunger and thirst, followed by safety and security needs, then the need for belonging and social acceptance, and finally self-esteem needs. Once these needs are met, a person strives for self-actualization, which represents the highest stage of personal fulfillment and inner peace.

Maslow describes self-actualized individuals as realistic, self-accepting, spontaneous, goal-oriented, problem-solving, independent, democratic, and highly creative.

Similarly, Carl Rogers, through his studies in psychoanalysis, developed his theory and client-centered therapy, aimed at helping individuals achieve self-actualization. His theory asserts that:
"A person is born with a strong motivation to utilize their latent potential for self-fulfillment and to behave in a way that aligns with their true self. However, they may require the support of another person who fully understands and empathizes with them to help uncover and harness these hidden potentials."

In this therapy approach, the therapist provides an atmosphere of unconditional positive regard, understanding, and empathy, without judgment or criticism. The goal is to help the client achieve individuality and self-formation.

Key Assumptions of Carl Rogers’ Theory:

• Every individual has the full right to hold different opinions, beliefs, and behaviors.
• They should act according to their principles and values, ensuring their actions align with their thoughts.
• This freedom of behavior should comply with general laws and should not infringe on the rights and freedoms of others.
• Since a person is free to choose their behavior, they must also take responsibility for its consequences.

Objectives:

1. Self-actualization: Developing a strong, independent, and spontaneous personality that is not overly influenced by others' opinions.
2. Self-affirmation: Achieving self-acceptance and satisfaction.

In Western psychotherapy, the non-directive exploratory approach encourages the client to explore their thoughts, desires, dreams, and inner conflicts through self-expression. The client is the active agent in therapy, while the therapist plays a supporting role, without taking on an authoritative or directive stance. The fundamental principle is to foster individuality, independence, and self-reliance while holding the client accountable for their personal growth.

Self-Actualization and the Eastern World

Unlike in the West, individuals in Eastern societies are bound by cultural, moral, and social norms. They are expected to conform to and adapt to their community's values, making it difficult to insist on individuality and independence without facing social criticism or disapproval.

Eastern societies generally do not prioritize personal freedom and individuality in the same way as Western cultures. People are expected to express themselves in a way that aligns with societal norms to avoid criticism or marginalization. As a result, many individuals experience an ongoing conflict between their beliefs and behaviors and what their society permits, leading to frustration, anxiety, and depression.

When a person's actions do not align with their beliefs, they may experience inner conflict, manifesting as constant stress and anxiety.

Rather than focusing solely on self-actualization, therapists working with Eastern clients often aim to help them adapt to their cultural environment to achieve psychological stability.

Self-Esteem

Self-esteem refers to an individual's evaluation of themselves based on their abilities, achievements, goals, strengths, weaknesses, and relationships with others. It can be high or low.

Self-esteem begins forming in childhood, shaped by repeated experiences. Negative experiences such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, or deprivation can lead to a poor self-image, accompanied by feelings of fear, shame, hesitation, depression, and lack of confidence.

Parents may unintentionally contribute to a child's negative self-perception through harsh criticism, blame, humiliation, or physical punishment, mistakenly believing this to be an effective parenting method. However, repeated negative reinforcement can impair the child's psychological development, leading to feelings of worthlessness, failure, and social withdrawal.

Low Self-Esteem:
A weak sense of self-worth may stem from persistent negative life circumstances, such as parental divorce, family breakdown, abuse, or frequent changes in caregivers. Repeated failures can reinforce a belief in one's incompetence, creating a self-fulfilling cycle of defeat.

People with low self-esteem often struggle with a critical inner voice that fosters self-doubt and discourages perseverance when facing challenges.

High Self-Esteem:
Strong self-esteem arises from a positive self-image supported by confidence, determination, and resilience. This is nurtured through a healthy upbringing that provides emotional, physiological, and security needs, fostering self-assurance and ambition. Repeated successes further reinforce high self-esteem.

Overcoming Low Self-Esteem:

• Avoid excessive self-criticism. Silence the inner voice that undermines confidence.
• Accept that making mistakes or failing is normal. Use failures as motivation for success.
• Do not seek to please others at the expense of your principles and feelings. Learn to say “no” when necessary.
• Face your fears and problems instead of avoiding them.
• Do not take life too seriously or rigidly.
• Focus on your goals, and use past successes as motivation.
• Regularly affirm your strengths, such as confidence, determination, and happiness. These positive affirmations are absorbed by the subconscious mind and can become reality.

Self-Image

Self-image is how individuals perceive themselves in comparison to others, including physical appearance, demeanor, and behavior. This perception significantly influences overall self-esteem.

Adolescents, in particular, are highly concerned with their self-image. They scrutinize their appearance—skin tone, hairstyle, and body shape—often spending excessive time in front of the mirror, striving for an idealized self-image that may be unattainable.

Some individuals, especially those prone to anxiety, develop a heightened self-consciousness, fearing that others are scrutinizing them for perceived flaws. This can lead to social anxiety, shyness, and low self-confidence.

Maintaining a Positive Self-Image:

• Be honest with yourself and acknowledge negative behaviors that hinder success.
• Accept yourself and take responsibility for your actions.
• Be kind to yourself and avoid excessive self-blame.
• Forgive yourself for mistakes and practice forgiveness toward others.
• Have faith in your abilities and expect success.
• Plan your goals effectively and work persistently to achieve them.
• Replace negative self-talk with encouraging affirmations.
• Stay open-minded and respectful of different perspectives.
• Build positive relationships and be receptive to advice.
• Maintain confidence but avoid arrogance.
• Avoid making snap judgments about others.