Lecture on Self-Perception and Self-Concept

Introduction

• Discussion on self-perception and ideal self-concept.
• Introduction to the topic of accuracy and distortions in self-perceptions.

Incongruence in Self-Perception

• Incongruence defined as the gap between self-perception and reality.
• Example of how people may perceive themselves differently from how others see them.
• Personal incongruences can negatively impact self-esteem.
• Recognizing whether self-perceptions are true or just influenced by external opinions or past failures.

Causes of Incongruence

• External influences like others' opinions.
• Personal failures in achieving ideal self-concepts.
• Misjudgment of personal skills or talents.

Combating Incongruence

• Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

  • Believing in expected outcomes leads to them occurring.
  • Example: Thinking you will mess up leads to actual mistakes.
  • Negative perceptions (e.g., "I am not smart") lead to behaviors that confirm such beliefs.

• Self-Talk

  • Intrapersonal communication or 'talking to oneself'.
  • Healthy self-talk influences self-esteem positively.
  • Negative self-talk can lead to lower self-esteem and negative self-concept.

Importance of Self-Talk

• Vital for maintaining a healthy self-perception.
• Encouragement and positive self-talk can enhance performance in activities like sports or drama.
• Related to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - changing thoughts to change behaviors.

Conclusion

• Positive self-talk and awareness of self-fulfilling prophecies can reduce incongruence between self-perception and reality.
• These practices help maintain a truthful and positive self-concept, avoiding negative self-esteem pitfalls.