Self concept, self identity, and social identity | Individuals and Society | MCAT | Khan Academy

Summary

This video script delves into the concept of self-identity, starting with defining self-concept as one's perception and evaluation of themselves. It distinguishes between the existential self, the basic sense of being distinct from others, and the categorical self, which involves recognizing oneself as an object with properties. The script further explores Carl Rogers' view of self-concept, comprising self-image, self-esteem, and ideal self. It introduces Social Identity Theory, highlighting personal and social identities, and the mental process of categorization, identification, and social comparison that shapes our self-perception and interactions with others.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Self-concept is how individuals perceive and evaluate themselves, according to psychologists.
• 👶 The development of self-concept starts with the existential self, which is the basic sense of being separate and distinct from others.
• 🔄 Existential self involves understanding that the self is constant and does not change over time.
• 👧 The categorical self comes after realizing the existential self, involving awareness of being an object with properties and categorizing oneself.
• 👦 Young children often categorize themselves by concrete attributes like age and gender.
• 🧑‍🎓 As individuals grow older, they begin to categorize themselves by more abstract traits like career or personal aspirations.
• 🌟 Carl Rogers identified three components of self-concept: self-image, self-esteem, and ideal self.
• 🤔 Social Identity theory divides identity into personal identity (unique traits) and social identity (groups one belongs to).
• 🏆 The mental process of social identity involves categorization, identification, and social comparison to maintain self-esteem.
• 🤝 Identification with a group can lead to emotional significance and a sense of belonging, which ties into self-esteem.
• 🆚 Social comparison is a critical aspect of maintaining self-esteem and can lead to prejudice when groups view each other as rivals.

Q & A

What is the definition of self-concept according to psychologists?

Self-concept, according to psychologists, refers to how someone thinks about, perceives, or evaluates themselves. It is a person's awareness and understanding of their own identity.

What are the two aspects of the development of self-concept?

The development of self-concept has two aspects: the existential self and the categorical self. The existential self is the most basic part, which is a sense of being separate and distinct from others, and understanding that the self is constant. The categorical self comes after realizing the existential self and involves categorizing oneself by properties such as age, gender, or other characteristics.

How do young children typically categorize themselves in terms of self-concept?

Young children often categorize themselves by concrete categories such as age or gender. They might say 'I'm three' or 'I'm a girl' as a way to understand and express their self-concept.

What is the significance of the existential self in the development of self-concept?

The existential self is significant as it is the most basic part of self-concept. It involves a sense of being separate and distinct from others and understanding that one's self remains constant over time and space.

How does the categorical self differ from the existential self?

The categorical self differs from the existential self in that it involves categorizing oneself based on properties and characteristics. It is a more complex and developed aspect of self-concept that emerges after the realization of the existential self.

Who is Carl Rogers and what is his contribution to the understanding of self-concept?

Carl Rogers is a psychologist known for his work in the humanistic branch of psychology. His contribution to the understanding of self-concept includes the idea that it has three components: self-image (the view we have of ourselves), self-esteem (how much value we place on ourselves), and the ideal self (what we wish to be).

What is the Social Identity theory and how does it relate to self-concept?

The Social Identity theory is a concept that defines self-concept in terms of two parts: personal identity (unique traits of an individual) and social identity (groups one belongs to). It helps to understand how individuals categorize themselves both personally and socially.

What are the three steps involved in the mental process of evaluating personal and social identities?

The three steps involved in the mental process of evaluating personal and social identities are categorization, identification, and social comparison. Categorization is the process of grouping ourselves and others into social categories. Identification is adopting the identity of the group we belong to. Social comparison is the act of comparing ourselves to others to maintain self-esteem.

How does the process of social comparison relate to the maintenance of self-esteem?

Social comparison is related to the maintenance of self-esteem because individuals compare themselves to others to evaluate their own worth. This comparison is often done in a way that is favorable to one's own group to maintain or enhance self-esteem.

What role does the concept of self-concept play in understanding prejudice?

The concept of self-concept plays a critical role in understanding prejudice because it involves the categorization and identification with groups, which can lead to competition and rivalry between different groups. This competition is often driven by the need to maintain or enhance self-esteem.