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Value

for milk when it is hungry. Although, this more specific level, a person may have a cry is based on reflex, this later on leads very positive view of her/his athletic to development of awareness that ‘I am bravery, but a negative view of her/his hungry’. This biological self in the context academic talents. At an even more specific of socio-cultural environment modifies level, one may have a positive self-concept itself. While you may feel hungry for a about one’s reading ability but a negative chocolate, an Eskimo may not. one about one’s mathematical skills. A distinction is made between ‘personal’ Finding out an individual’s self-concept is and ‘social’ self. The personal self leads to not easy. The most frequently used method an orientation in which one feels primarily involves asking the person about herself/ concerned with oneself. We have talked himself. above how our biological needs lead to the development of a ‘biological self’. But, soon Self-esteem a child’s psychological and social needs in the context of her/his environment lead Self-esteem is an important aspect of our self. As persons we always make some other components of personal self to judgment about our own value or worth. emerge. Emphasis comes to be laid on This value judgment of a person about those aspects of life that relate only to the herself/himself is called self-esteem. Some concerned person, such as personal freedom, personal responsibility, personal people have high self-esteem, whereas achievement, or personal comforts. The others may have low self-esteem. In order to assess self-esteem we present a variety social self emerges in relation with others of statements to a person, and ask her/ and emphasises such aspects of life as him to indicate the extent to which those cooperation, unity, affiliation, sacrifice, statements are true for her or him. For support or sharing. This self values family and social relationships. Hence, it example, we may ask a child to indicate the extent to which statements such as “I am is also referred to as familial or relational good at homework”, or “I am the one self. usually chosen for the games”, or “I am highly liked by my peers”, are true of her/ C OGNITIVE AND B EHAVIOURAL A SPECTS him. If a child reports these statements to OF SELF be true for her/him, her/his self-esteem will be high in comparison to someone who Psychologists from all parts of the world says “no”. have shown interest in the study of self. Studies indicate that by the age of 6 to These studies have brought out many 7 years, children seem to have formed self- aspects of our behaviour related to self. As esteem at least in four areas: academic indicated earlier, all of us carry within us competence, social competence, physical/ a sense of who we are and what makes us athletic competence, and physical different from everyone else. We cling to appearance, which become more refined with age. Our capacity to view ourselves in our personal and social identities and feel safe in the knowledge that it remains terms of stable dispositions permits us to stable in our lifetime. combine separate self-evaluations into a The way we perceive ourselves and the general psychological image of ourselves. ideas we hold about our competencies and This is known as an overall sense of self- esteem. attributes is also called self-concept. At a very general level, this view of oneself is, Self-esteem shows a strong relationship overall, either positive or negative. At a with our everyday behaviour. For example, 26 Psychology Reprint 2026-27