Self concept is the way we perceive ourselves and to some extent it may refer to our thoughts. Therefore, as noted by Judge et al (2008), self concept can be viewed as an aspect that determines what we think about as well as how we think about ourselves. Hence self concept enables us to be aware evaluate ourselves well. Some scholars have researched and considered a deeper understanding of one’s self and they have concluded that self concept is what makes an individual belief and provides to a person the important attributes in life (Teaser et al, 2008).
I have managed to develop my self esteem through social comparison process. By comparing my abilities, attitudes and beliefs with others I have been able to know when and how I should approve as well as value myself. Through the social comparison process I have also realized that my high self esteem didn’t just happen but it developed through a process. I focused on upward social comparison and every time I would compare myself with those whom I thought was better than me. In these occasions I aspired to be like them and I was able to develop my bench marks based on these people success. The favorite people whom I kept comparing myself with included the successful politicians and business persons. I always looked at the positive attributes which contributed to their success and through this I was able to set my standards. For instance, my confidence developed due to the success of my dad in business. I compared my class performance to dads business, but I realized that my dad was very successful in business unlike me who failed in class and couldn’t even measure up in group discussions. When I realized that my confidence and my abilities couldn’t measure with my dad’s talents I was driven to push myself to the wall, to achieve more and improve on my self confidence and abilities. Indeed this is what has propelled me to my current self acceptance. Thus, I am a person with very high self esteem and am always optimistic of my success and achievements in my endeavors. I hardly, worry and hardly do I care of what others think about me. My dad believed in success in business regardless of the inflation in the country, and as a person I developed perseverance effect and now I only believe on good things about myself, albeit self esteem do fluctuate (Teaser et al, 2008).
Through reflected appraisal process I have been able to build in strong statuses and roles. It has enabled me to see myself in the way that others would want to see me. And by putting myself in this position I have been able to be a good brother to my siblings. They have wanted to see this good brother who is caring and always there for them. This is a role that I have played very well because am usually there for my younger siblings and I always do what they expect me to do as their brother. Thus, by reflected appraisal, I have been able to meet my role of a cousin and a student as well. Have also played a role of a good child knowing what I should do as the first born. Above all, reflected appraisal has been important to me since childhood because it enabled me to categorize myself according to my gender group and perform the gender roles that are outlined in the societal structures for a boy. Now as a mature male, I still look towards meeting my roles as a male, by being there to support on all physical work that my mom can’t do. In school, I have earned the status of being an excellent student by excelling in the academic works. Also, because I am gifted in athletes, I have managed to take the status by joining athlete sessions after school. Indeed, knowing that others expect me to keep excelling because I am good in academics and athletes I have enrolled for extra lessons which have enabled me to improve on my performance (Judge et al, 2008).
References
Tesser, A., Millar, M. and Moore, J. (2008). Some affective consequences of social comparison and reflection processes: The pain and pleasure of being close. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 49-61.
Judge, T. A., Locke, E. A., Durham, C. C., & Kluger, A. N. (2008). Dispositional effects on job and life satisfaction: The role of core evaluations. Journal of Applied Psychology, 83(1), 17-34.
