Metalanguage

Self-awareness is the ability to see yourself clearly and objectively through reflection
and introspection.

self-awareness

n. self-focused attention or knowledge. (APA DICTIONARY)

Self-Knowledge - as defined as understanding one’s own motives, character, beliefs

grants one the freedom to live their life without regrets. Additionally, it gives one a sense
of direction and makes it extremely difficult to be manipulated.
Self-concept is a general term used to refer to how someone thinks about, evaluates or
perceives themselves. To be aware of oneself is to have a concept of oneself.

self-concept (APA DICTIONARY)

n. one’s description and evaluation of oneself, including psychological and physical

characteristics, qualities, skills, roles and so forth. Self-concepts contribute to the
individual’s sense of identity over time. Also called self-appraisal; self-assessment;
self-evaluation; self-rating. See self-image; self-perception.

Q: IMPORTANCE

Self-esteem (also known as self-worth) refers to the extent to which we like, accept or
approve of ourselves, or how much we value ourselves. Self-esteem always involves a
degree of evaluation and we may have either a positive or a negative view of ourselves.

Q: IMPORTANCE

Essential Knowledge

A. Multi-disciplinal approach
Q: HOW

So why is a multidisciplinary approach to education so important?

Because it gives you a more deep and wide reference framework for considering
the causes and effects of problems, and thus find alignments between these points to
articulate solutions. It improves your ability to consider things from multiple
perspectives at the same time, as well as measure various ripple effects, as you can
consider how those manifest through different domains and collective relationships.

It also makes you more able to consider seemingly diametrically opposite views in
terms of similarities. Because as a multi-disciplinarian, you will recognize how two
opposite views can be accurate at the same time, from different perspectives
(something that might illuminate the political debate?). You learn to think more
holistically around problems and solutions. You become someone that can integrate
things, which means you will make sense out of things. And this is something that will
always be in demand. Especially in a highly complex and interconnected world that in
many cases - does not make sense. (Markus Modin, 2018).

As Mike Colagrossi 2019 detailed, Alan Wats believed that we can comprehend a
greater sense of the self. The self is not alienated from the universe, but a part of the
whole process. Watts believed that we could shed the illusion of self and the other
through simple comprehension. No need for any difficult yoga meditations or even mind-
shattering psychedelics.

What is self? WHO AM I?

The “self” has many aspects. These aspects make up the “self’s” integral parts, such as
self-awareness, self-esteem, self-knowledge, and self-perception. With these
aspects, the person can alter, change, add, and/ or modify himself or herself for the
purpose of gaining social acceptance.

The “self” is an important study in psychology. It holds that the “self” is either the
cognitive or the affective representation of the individual. Cognitive is relating to or
involving conscious intellectual activity while affective is relating to or arising from
feelings influenced by emotions (Merriam-Webster, 2017).

B. Integral Parts of the Self

SELF-AWARENESS is the ability to see yourself clearly and objectively through

reflection (careful thinking) and introspection (examination/attention to your thoughts
and feelings).

While it may not be possible to attain total objectivity about oneself (that is a
debate that continues to rage throughout the history of philosophy), there are certainly
degrees of self-awareness. It exists on a spectrum.

Although everyone has a fundamental idea of what self-awareness is, we do not know
exactly where it comes from, what its precursors are, or why some of us seem to have
more or less than others.

SELF-KNOWLEDGE - defined as understanding one’s own motives, character, beliefs

which grant one the freedom to live their life without regrets. Additionally, it gives one a
sense of direction and makes it extremely difficult to be manipulated. The more self-
knowledge one obtains the smoother they can transition through difficult times. This is
because one can naturally TRUST, understand, and comprehend the best course of
action for THEIR best benefit. SELF-KNOWLEDGE is considered one of the few ways
to break through societal conditioning and achieve higher levels of
happiness/consciousness. (Which are not necessarily the same thing.)

SELF-CONCEPT is a general term used to refer to how someone thinks about,

evaluates or perceives themselves. To be aware of oneself is to have a concept of
oneself.

What is Self-Concept? A Definition

Self-concept is an overarching idea we have about who we are—physically,
emotionally, socially, spiritually, and in terms of any other aspects that make up who
we are (Neill, 2005). We form and regulate our self-concept as we grow, based on the
knowledge we have about ourselves. It is multidimensional, and can be broken down
into these individual aspects. FROM: https://positivepsychology.com/self-
concept/#:~:text=A%20person's%20self%2Dimage%20is,themselves%2C%20and%20feels%20about%2
0themselves.

(1) THE EXISTENTIAL SELF

This is 'the most basic part of the self-scheme or self-concept; the sense of being
separate and distinct from others and the awareness of the constancy of the self'
(Bee, 1992).
(2) THE CATEGORICAL SELF
Having realized that he or she exists as a separate experiencing being, the child
next becomes aware that he or she is also an object in the world.
Just as other objects, people have properties that can be experienced (big, small, red,
smooth and so on) so the child is becoming aware of himself or herself as an object
which can be experienced, and which has properties.
SELF-IMAGE (is how you see yourself)
This does not necessarily have to reflect reality. Indeed, a person with anorexia
who is thin may have a self-image in which the person believes they are fat. A person's
self-image is affected by many factors, such as parental influences, friends, the media
etc.
SELF-IMAGE INVOVLES:
1) Physical Description: I’m tall, have blue eyes...etc.
2) Social Roles: We are all social beings whose behavior is shaped to some extent
by the roles we play. Such roles as student, housewife, or member of the football team
not only help others to recognize us but also help us to know what is expected of us in
various situations.
3) PERSONAL TRAITS: These are the third dimension of our self-descriptions.
“I’m impulsive...I’m generous...I tend to worry a lot” ...etc.
4) EXISTENTIAL STATEMENTS (abstract ones): These can range from "I’m a child
of the universe" to "I’m a human being" to "I’m a spiritual being"...etc.

SELF-ESTEEM (the extent to which you value yourself)

SELF-ESTEEM (also known as self-worth) refers to the extent to which we like, accept
or approve of ourselves, or how much we value ourselves. Self-esteem always involves
a degree of evaluation and we may have either a positive or a negative view of
ourselves.
HIGH SELF-ESTEEM (we have a positive view of ourselves)
This tends to lead to

• Confidence in our own abilities

• Self-acceptance
• Not worrying about what others think
• Optimism

LOW SELF-ESTEEM (we have a negative view of ourselves)

This tends to lead to:

• Lack of confidence
• Want to be/look like someone else
• Always worrying what others might think
• Pessimism

How well do you know yourself? Are you aware of your talents? Skills? Weakness?
Strengths?

The persistent question, “Who am I?” is rooted in the human need to understand the
basis of the experiences of the “self.” When people are asked to explain their
understanding of the word, the usual answers are: “It’s who I am.” “It’s me, my
essence.”

“It’s what makes me unique and different from everyone else.”

For a more meaningful understanding of the “self,” numerous studies have been
conducted and various approaches have been developed from concepts about it.
Important philosophers from ancient to contemporary times sought to describe the
essential qualities that compose a person’s uniqueness. On the other hand, sociology
sees the “self” as a product of social interactions, developed over time through social
activities and experiences.

Anthropology views the “self” as a culturally shaped construct or idea.

Anthropologists assert that it is an autonomous participant in the society as much as it is
submerged in the community. Meanwhile, rather than giving a definition, psychology
sees the “self” as having characteristics or properties that can be used to describe it.
Pioneers in the study pointed out that the “self” is related to its physical and social
environment, it is unique, and it is necessary to its experience.

DISCUSSIONS BELOW FROM:

https://positivepsychology.com/self-
concept/#:~:text=A%20person's%20self%2Dimage%20is,themselves%2C%20and%20feels%20about%20themselve
s.

Self-Concept vs. Self-Esteem

Self-concept is not self-esteem, although self-esteem may be a part of self-concept.

Self-concept is the perception that we have of ourselves, our answer when we ask
ourselves the question “Who am I?”

It is knowing about one’s own tendencies, thoughts, preferences and habits, hobbies,
skills, and areas of weakness. According to Carl Rogers, founder of client-centered
therapy, self-concept is an overarching construct that self-esteem is one of the
components of it (McLeod, 2008).

Self-Concept vs. Self-Image

Self-image is related to self-concept but is less broad. Self-image is how an individual

sees themselves, and it does not have to align with reality.

A person’s self-image is based on how they see themselves, while self-concept is a

more comprehensive evaluation of the self, largely based on how a person sees
themselves, values themselves, thinks about themselves, and feels about themselves.

Carl Rogers posited that self-image is a component of self-concept, along with self-
esteem or self-worth and one’s “ideal self” (McLeod, 2008).

Self-Concept vs. Self-Awareness

Self-awareness also influences self-concept. It is the quality or trait that involves

conscious awareness of one’s own thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and traits (Cherry,
2018A). To have a fully developed self-concept (and one that is based in reality), a
person must have at least some level of self-awareness.

Self-Concept vs. Self-Efficacy

SELF-CONCEPT is a more complex construct than SELF-EFFICACY. While SELF-

EFFICACY refers to an individual’s judgments of their own abilities, self-concept
is more general and includes both cognitive (thoughts about) and affective
(feelings about) judgments about oneself (Bong & Clark, 1999).