self image essay

What is Self-Image and How Do We Improve it?

Charlotte Nickerson

Research Assistant at Harvard University

Undergraduate at Harvard University

Charlotte Nickerson is a student at Harvard University obsessed with the intersection of mental health, productivity, and design.

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Saul Mcleod, PhD

Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester

Saul Mcleod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

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Key Takeaways

Self-image, first mentioned by Morris Rosenberg in 1965, is the view or concept that one has of oneself (the sort of person we think we are). This also includes body image and gender.
Self-image consists of what a person perceives to be or thinks of themselves, what they perceive others think of them, and the way someone would like to be — their ideal self. These thoughts can relate to someone’s perceived physical appearance, personality, skills, values and principles, and perception of how they fit into society’s norms around masculinity and femininity.
Self-image and self-concept are two similar but distinct ideas. In general, self-image deals with how one sees the concrete, measurable concepts of oneself, while concept relates to how one sees oneself on an abstract level.
A number of mental health disorders surround self-image. One example is body dysmorphic disorder, where someone focuses on a perceived flaw — either real or nonexistent — in their personal appearance at the cost of their self-esteem and self-image.

Definition & Characteristics

One’s self-image is one’s view or concept of oneself. Self-image is a fundamental aspect of someone’s personality that can determine the success of relationships and a sense of general well-being. A negative self-image can be caused by self-abuse, self-defeating, or self-destructive behavior.

Suzaan Oltman, for example, says that the three elements of self-image are (Oltman, 2014):

The way a person perceives or thinks of themself;
What a person thinks others think about themselves;
and the way a person would like to be or their ideal self.
The Physical Dimension: how someone evaluates their appearance.
The Psychological Dimension: how someone evaluates their personality.
The Intellectual Dimension: how someone evaluates their intelligence.
The Skills Dimension: how someone evaluates their social and technical skills.
The Moral Dimension: how someone evaluates their values and principles.
The Sexual Dimension: how someone feels they fit into society’s masculine and/or feminine norms.

Self-image is the product of thought patterns developed through the social influences of those around someone from childhood on.

Self-image is a product of learning. Early childhood influences, as well as one’s experiences with others on the individual and societal scales, can influence one’s image of themselves.

How someone relates to their peers can often influence self-image. For example, a child who was bullied in school due to an unusual physical trait may develop a self-image of unattractiveness that carries with them into adulthood.

Nonetheless, self-image can be altered and improved through techniques such as non-judgemental thinking, meditation, and taking steps to cultivate unconditional positive regard for others.

Self-Image vs. Self-Concept

Self-image has been defined as the total subjective perception of oneself, including an image of one’s body and impressions of one’s personality, capabilities, and others.

This definition equates self-image with self- concept. Meanwhile, other psychologists have said that one’s self-image is one’s mental picture, one’s physical appearance, and the intersection between one’s experiences, desires, and feelings (Bailey, 2003).

Bailey (2003) has argued that the difference between self-image and self-concept lies in how self-image pertains to the (measurable) concrete things that one does, how one appears, and the material things that one has.

These measurable characteristics of a person can include:

Unchanging genetic attributes present at birth, such as the shape of one’s eyes or noose;
Genetic attributes present at birth that do change, such as body proportions and height;
Chosen acquired material things obtained for the enhancement of one’s physical body self-image, of one’s public persona, and of one’s measurable “work products.” These can include things such as money, possessions, or jewelry.

Self-image can also factor in the things that someone does that can be measured, such as achievements at work and in sports (Bailey, 2003).

The self-concept is a more overarching concept than self image: it involves how you see yourself, how you think about yourself, and how you feel about yourself. Self-image is just one component of several that make up self-concept.

Meanwhile, self-concepts are qualities present in oneself and can be assessed through estimates rather than measurement.

These qualities can concern what one does — such as often using compassion and consideration — as well as non-measurable aspects of how one appears, such as how attractive one thinks they are.

The assessments placed on these qualities may be significantly influenced by one’s immediate environment as well as society at large.

For example, Bailey (2003) mentions how institutionalized racism in America may lead to black Americans internalizing stereotypes of inferiority presented by whites.

Similarly, a delinquent teenager may take the position of their peer group that being academic is not “cool.”

Differences Between Self-image, The Ideal Self, And The Real Self

The ideal self is an idea deriving from Carl Rogers’s humanistic psychology . Rogers proposed that the personality is composed of the real and ideal self.

While the real self is the person that someone believes they actually are, the ideal self is an idealized self-image created out of what they have learned from their life experiences, the demands of society, and what they admire in their role models.

Self-image can often exist in relation to one’s ideal self. Usually, there is an incongruence between one’s real and ideal selves and one’s self-image.

That is to say, how someone imagines themself to be in an ideal life may differ from how they see themselves, which, in turn, can differ from who that person actually is and is perceived by others.

Implications of (in)congruence and between self-image and ideal-self

Someone who believes that they are far from their ideal self may, in turn, develop a low self-image. Conversely, the closer our self-image and ideal self are to each other, the more consistent or congruent we are and the higher our sense of self-worth.

Someone is said to be incongruent if they see some of their experience as unacceptable to them and are denied or distorted in their self-image.

As a result, psychologists have theorized the discrepancy between the real and ideal self as a motivating force for entering psychotherapy. Rogers (1980) calls this gap between the real and ideal self incongruence and believes this can lead to maladjustment.

Research studies have attempted to measure levels of real-ideal self-congruence by having participants sort cards describing themselves as they would like to be and as they are. This is called the self-ideal Q sort.

Therapists have attempted to improve self-ideal congruence in their treatments by emphasizing one’s positive characteristics and how they can move toward expressing more of these characteristics.

Parents can also help their children achieve greater congruence between their real and ideal selves by giving them unconditional positive regard or unconditional love .

According to Schmitt (1980), people who are accepted and prized tend to develop a more caring attitude toward themselves.

Improving Self-Image

A good self-image can be built by routinely converting setbacks into accomplishments. People would typically call this “turning a lemon into lemonade.”

In doing this, the person doing the conversion can build self-confidence in one area that is important to them.

Having a positive self-image involves having a good view of oneself. For example, someone who has a positive self-image may:

See themselves as attractive and desirable.
Believe that they are intelligent.
Believe that they are inherently happy and healthy.
Believe that they are making progress toward, or are at least somewhat close to, their ideal version of themselves.
Believe that others perceive them as having the positive qualities they see in themselves.

Meanwhile, someone who has a negative self-image may:

See themselves as unattractive and undesirable .
Have an image of themselves as stupid or unintelligent.
Believe that they are unhappy or unhealthy.
Believe that they are nowhere near their ideal self and that they are unable to become closer to being their ideal self.
Believe that others perceive them as being as inadequate as they believe they are.

Self-image is changeable and can be built up. Numerous researchers have conducted studies on how groups of people such as students, musicians, and people with disabilities can improve their self-image. These studies have used methods such as:

Improving some aspect of one’s appearance, either through taking on healthy habits (such as exercise and adequate nutrition) or surgery (such as through dentistry).
Nonjudgemental reflection, such as loving-kindness meditation. This can help someone reframe self-critical and judgemental thoughts into thoughts that are constructive and reflective of reality. By using nonjudgemental reflection to become more aware of harmful thinking patterns, people can develop a greater capacity to provide themselves with unconditional positive regard. In addition, meditation has been shown to increase one’s sense of social connectedness (Hutcherson, Seppala, & Gross, 2008).
Calling out negative thought patterns, commonly referred to as the “inner critic.”

Researchers have also proposed methods through which others can improve the self-image of those they interact with. These include (Campbell, 1981):

Accentuating positive aspects of a person and vocalizing one’s strengths
Publically displaying someone’s personal achievements. For example, a teacher may put a picture of a student and their personal achievements on a bulletin board every week.
Allowing someone to share their expertise with a group, such as through solving a problem or giving a lecture on a topic of interest.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

When self-image is greatly detached from reality, serious emotional and psychological problems can result. One such example of this is Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a body-image disorder characterized by persistent and intrusive preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect in one’s appearance.

As a result, those with Body Dysmorphic Disorder may engage in the following:

Camouflaging their perceived defect, such as with clothing or makeup;
Comparing their “flawed” body part to others”;
Seeking surgery;
Checking or avoiding mirrors;
Skin picking;
Excessive grooming and exercise;
and changing clothes excessively.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a result of an incongruency between one’s self-image — how they believe they look — and their real self.

As numerous researchers have shown, those who have Body Dysmorphic Disorder develop drastically reduced self-esteem as a result (Phillips, Pinto, & Jain, 2004).

Negative Self-Image In Therapy

The thought patterns behind negative self-image are characteristic of several mental health disorders, such as depression (Patton, 1991). Researchers such as Stinkens, Lietaer, and Leijssen (2012) have discussed how self-image impacts the relationships between patients and their therapists.

The researchers warn that clients with a negative self-image often decline to discuss topics in therapy. Often, those with negative self-image take one of two views: that they cannot solve their problems themselves or that their therapist cannot contribute to them solving their problems.

Oftentimes, clients with negative self-image avoid directly asking for attention and compassion due to feelings of insignificance; instead, they may profile themselves as a victim (Stinkens, Lietaer, & Leijssen, 2012).

These conflicting and indirect interactions often push therapists to suggest impossible solutions, further confirming the client’s dependence and strengthening their conviction that they cannot deal with their problems.

To break through these habitual patterns with clients who have a negative self-image, Stinkens, Lietaer, and Leijssen suggest therapists must balance displaying empathy and concern with attempts to gradually confront clients with the conflicts in their communication, guiding them toward directly asking for attention, and affirming their desire for love and affirmation and their inability to receive these (Stinkens, Lietaer, & Leijssen; 2012).

Bailey 2nd, J. A. (2003). Self-image, self-concept, and self-identity revisited . Journal of the National Medical Association, 95 (5), 383.

Campbell, L. P. (1981). Every student a success: Improving self-image to increase learning potential. NASSP Bulletin, 65 (441), 76-78.

Hutcherson, C. A., Seppala, E. M., & Gross, J. J. (2008). Loving-kindness meditation increases social connectedness. Emotion, 8 (5), 720.

Oltman, S. (2014). Investigation on self-image in young people. Cumbria.

Patton, W. (1991). Relationship between self-image and depression in adolescents. Psychological reports, 68 (3), 867-870.

Phillips, K. A., Pinto, A., & Jain, S. (2004). Self-esteem in body dysmorphic disorder. Body image, 1 (4), 385-390.

Schmitt, J. P. (1980). Unconditional positive regard: The hidden paradox. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 17 (3), 237.

Stinckens, N., Lietaer, G., & Leijssen, M. (2013). Working with the inner critic: Therapeutic approach. Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies, 12 (2), 141-156.

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19 Self-Image Examples & Tools for a Positive Sense of Self

Our self-image is also about how we perceive ourselves in terms of our life. Self-image also determines what kind of person we think we are and what we believe others think about us.

It really boils down to how much we believe in ourselves and in our self-worth. If you hesitate to do things because of what others might think or have thoughts about yourself that you continually want to change, you may have issues when it comes to a healthy self-image.

In this article, we will review what self-image theory is, some examples of it, and ideas to improve your self-image.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Self-Compassion Exercises for free . These detailed, science-based exercises will help you increase the compassion and kindness you show yourself and also give you tools to help your clients, students, or employees show more compassion to themselves.

This Article Contains:

What is self-image theory, using self-image therapy, 12 examples of self-image, 4 questions on self-image we should be asking, a look at self-image in kids, 5 ideas to improve self-image, 2 exercises and activities to enhance self-image, 3 useful worksheets, 2 assessments and questionnaires, a take-home message.

Self-image is the “total subjective perception of oneself, including an image of one’s body and impressions of one’s personality, capabilities, and so on” (Bailey, 2003).

Other psychologists have asserted that our self-image is our mental picture and has to do with our appearance and the integration of our experiences, desires, and feelings.

Which one is correct, you might ask?

When we have a mental picture of our measurable qualities, we see:

The unchanging attributes that are present since birth, such as the shape of our eyes
Any genetic attributes present at birth that might change, such as body proportions
Any chosen acquired material things we may gather, such as money, possessions, or enhancements that help us define our self-image or public persona (Bailey, 2003)

Self-concept , on the other hand, has been defined as our self-identity, which consists of a schema or organized collection of feelings and beliefs about ourselves (Bailey, 2003).

The issue of self-identity is very complex and multidimensional. It has several components that work together to define who we are and how we identify ourselves.

Similar in concept is self theory, which is comprised of four factors (Business Jargons, n.d.):

Looking-glass self

Self theory emphasizes a set of perceptions we might have for ourselves and the perceptions and relationships we have with others. Carl Rogers, an American psychologist, contributed significantly toward self theory.

Our self-image refers to what we think about ourselves. This includes our beliefs, such as about who we are, and how these beliefs form our identity.

The ideal self refers to the way we would like to be seen. This image might be very different from our self-image. The ideal self persona acts as a sort of stimulus that can motivate us to engage in activities that can bring us closer to our ideal self.

The real self is basically what others show you concerning your self-image. When others respond to us and share our beliefs about our perception, we take that feedback and adjust our self-image accordingly.

The looking-glass self is about our perception of others’ perception. In other words, tuning into how other people see us and perceive us and comparing that to how we see ourselves.

It’s something we should always be working on. If we receive positive reinforcements in our developing years, we may be more likely to have a healthy self-image in our adult years.

What happens if we don’t receive positive reinforcements during those tender years growing up? If we don’t feel good about ourselves, everything in our life can be affected.

Therapy can help us change the way we feel about ourselves. Working with a caring and supportive therapist can help someone gain a more realistic sense of self and help encourage them to take steps to feel better.

One therapy that is excellent for this is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT can help improve low self-esteem , anxiety, and depression (Fennell, 2005). This type of therapy is often called “person-centered” therapy or “person-centric,” which basically means that you work from the inside out.

While working with a therapist, you can recognize the things that trigger low self-esteem, like looking at yourself in the mirror in a bathing suit. You can begin to see that your opinions are often self-imposed.

Working with a therapist can also help you learn to reevaluate situations and opinions, as you work to reframe and change negative thoughts.

In addition to seeking therapy, there are other things you can do to help boost your self-image, including:

Monitoring your self-talk
Learning mindfulness meditation
Taking a class to be more assertive
Taking risks to develop your self-awareness skills and improve performance
Making a gratitude list of things you are grateful for

Download 3 Free Self-Compassion Exercises (PDF)

These detailed, science-based exercises will equip you to help others create a kinder and more nurturing relationship with themselves.

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You act assertively without guilt.
You don’t dwell on the past.
You see everyone as your equal.
You don’t allow yourself to be manipulated.
You recognize both positive and negative feelings and share them with others.
You find yourself doing different things to achieve balance.
You seek out people who are positive like yourself.
You accept challenges as opportunities to grow.
You can handle constructive criticism.
You are proactive and communicate clearly.
You value yourself.
You value other people.

These may seem like little things, but they are actually big things. Doing something small, like acting assertively without being pushy or feeling guilty, is a sure sign of a positive self-image.

Living in the present moment is also powerful. Those who often feel bad about themselves spend a lot of time dwelling on past mistakes. If you can let the past go and move forward, you will feel much better about who you are.

Seeing everyone as your equal is another good sign you have a healthy self-image. People who feel bad about themselves often see other people as better than them. Knowing and recognizing that each of us is the same is a sure sign of a healthy person.

Those with a healthy self-image have learned to honor and recognize both positive and negative feelings without getting caught up in them.

Sharing your feelings with someone else can also help you feel better about what you are going through.

Working to build positive relationships and steering away from people who bring you down can also go a long way to boosting your self-image.

Other things that can be helpful include learning how to take criticism well, accepting challenges as a part of life, and learning how to value yourself.

All of these small things can go a long way to keeping your self-esteem and self-image positive.

It defines how we think and feel about ourselves based on our appearance, performance, and relationships. All of these factors play a crucial role when it comes to our happiness and fulfillment in life.

What are some questions we should ask ourselves when examining our self-image?

According to the Cleveland Clinic (n.d.), our self-image is dynamic and always changing. It tends to be a process that occurs over a lifetime.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to gauge your self-image:

1. What do you like about yourself?

You might be surprised by how good it feels to sit down and reflect on what you like about yourself. Make a handwritten list, and don’t limit yourself to typical things like a nice smile. Try listing things like ‘strong legs’ or appreciating your ability to make time for others. Making this a daily or weekly habit can go a long way toward boosting your self-image.

2. Would you say that to your best friend?

The words you say to yourself every day can have a big impact. If you wouldn’t say something to your best friend, you shouldn’t say it to yourself. Try positive affirmations to move away from this destructive habit.

3. Do you show yourself that you are worthy?

If you don’t treat yourself to beautiful things every once in a while, you are missing out. Allowing yourself to buy something small or even taking a class you’ve wanted to take can make you feel genuinely worthy. In a family situation, you may often feel the need to prioritize the needs of other family members, but you need to look after yourself as well. Spoil yourself every once in a while.

4. Do you have healthy boundaries (Matson, 2016)?

Setting healthy boundaries is something we all need to do. Those who over-commit themselves and/or have difficulty saying no may get pushed around.

If you always apologize to people, you may fall into this category as well. It’s amazing how something simple like setting healthy boundaries can help improve your life and how you feel about yourself.

Children with low self-esteem are often self-critical and feel like they aren’t as good as other kids. They also tend to focus more on their failings than on things they do well. Those with a poor self-image might also lack self-confidence and doubt that they can do things well.

When kids feel good about themselves, they tend to have more confidence and try more new things. They are also much more likely to feel proud of the things they accomplish and can even deal with mistakes in a healthy way.

Children with poor self-image may feel very unsure of themselves and like they don’t fit in. As a result, others may treat them poorly, and they may have a hard time standing up for themselves.

Self-esteem and self-image can develop as early as a few months old, believe it or not. It tends to develop slowly over time. If a child gets positive feedback and a lot of attention and loving care, they take those same feelings with them as they get older.

Parents can help build self-esteem in children by:

Helping children learn to do things by showing them
Praising children when they truly deserve it
Praising other things besides getting an A or being smart, such as having a good attitude or making progress
Being a good role model and leading by example
Avoiding negative criticism
Focusing on strengths

Have a look at these Self-Esteem Books for informative material to help you increase kids’ self-esteem.

The invisible force – self-image – enables you to achieve great goals

There are a number of ways to improve your self-image, based on research. Here are a few examples:

1. Challenge your negative thoughts

Replacing negative thoughts with realistic, positive thoughts can improve self-image (Beck & Beck, 1972).

The first step is to notice negative thinking, challenge these thoughts, and then actively rephrase each in a more positive sense.

2. Practice self-compassion

Self-compassion can improve self-image, and also contribute to improved mental health. A study by Kirsten Nedd (Neff, 2003) found that self-compassion was positively associated with self-esteem.

Treating yourself like you would treat your best friend, is one way of improving your self-compassion.

3. Engage in self-reflection

Consistent and focused self-reflection not only leads to a better understanding of oneself, but also in improved self-image (Markus & Nurius, 1986).

Journaling is a great tool for such self-reflection, and doing this consistently will improve your own self-knowledge.

4. Seek out social support

Having supportive relationships with others can improve your self-image (Leary, 2007).

Ditch toxic relationships, and build and focus on positive relationships with those that care and support you.

5. Engage in physical activity

Regular physical activity can improve self-image and self-esteem (Blumenthal, 1989).

Various aspects are at play here, including improved mood, reduced stress, more confidence in your own body and abilities, and improved fitness.

Interestingly enough, it may be that the consistency of an exercise routine contributes more than the actual amount. Either way, depending on your baseline, moderate exercise such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming can improve your self-image (WHO, 2019; CDC 2020).

Here at PositivePsychology.com we have various exercises and worksheets that can be used to enhance self-image.

Besides this small sample, the Positive Psychology Toolkit© has over 450 tools and exercises to further help enhance self-image and for other practical positive psychology applications.

1. Understanding the inner critic

The goal of this exercise is to help you become more aware of your inner critic.

Examining self-critical thoughts and the way you talk to yourself can help you understand where these thoughts are coming from so you can learn to move away from them.

2. Letter of self-compassion

The goal of this intervention is to promote compassionate thoughts. The more you forgive and accept yourself, the easier it will be to deal with emotions and feelings you are struggling with.

These worksheets are also highly beneficial for enhancing self-image.

1. Reframing critical self-talk

This is a wonderful exercise for reframing hurtful thoughts. Most of us are very hard on ourselves. We don’t often stop to think about how much this hurts our self-image. This exercise can help you recognize those times when you are unkind so that you can soften your critical voice.

2. Writing about intensely positive experiences

Research shows us that merely writing about positive experiences can help enhance our mood. This tool involves writing about positive experiences for three days in a row. As you focus on wonderful positive, happy experiences, may start to feel better. These mood tracker charts and ideas can also benefit you over a longer period.

3. Character strength exploration

This worksheet involves reflecting on strengths that you have used in the past. This exercise can be used to enhance your knowledge and acceptance of your own strengths or envision yourself actively working on them.

Related: 12 Strength-Based Skills and Activities to Add to Your Practice

17 Exercises To Foster Self-Acceptance and Compassion

Help your clients develop a kinder, more accepting relationship with themselves using these 17 Self-Compassion Exercises [PDF] that promote self-care and self-compassion.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

Try out these tests to determine the client’s current level of self-esteem.

1. Thoughts and feelings

This tool is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Examining your feelings and assessing how in control you feel can help you find ways to enhance your self-image. This Thoughts and Feelings worksheet helps you evaluate various statements and assess your acceptance and control of your thoughts and feelings.

2. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale

The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale is a 10-item scale that measures self-worth , both positive and negative, in terms of feelings about the self. All items are answered using a four-point Likert scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree.

The test is useful for measuring how satisfied you feel about yourself as well as how inclined you are to see yourself as a success or failure.

Our article which includes the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale , also shares various other self-esteem questionnaires.

The idea of self-image is vitally important. It impacts every area of life. Our self-image is something that develops throughout our entire life.

If you feel good about yourself, you will continue to build that positive self-image. If you don’t feel good about yourself and don’t take steps to counteract those feelings, your self-image will continue to deteriorate.

Nurturing your self-image is probably one of the best things you can do for yourself daily to help you live a happy and fulfilling life.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Self Compassion Exercises for free .

Bailey, J. A. (2003). Self-image, self-concept, and self-identity revisited. Journal of the National Medical Association, 95 (5), 383–386.
Beck, A. T., & Beck, J. S. (1972). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders . New York: International Universities Press.
Blumenthal, J. A. (1989). Exercise and self-esteem. International Journal of Sport Psychology , 20(1), 1-16.
Business Jargons. (n.d.). Self theory. Retrieved July 30, 2021, from https://businessjargons.com/self-theory.html.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition .
Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Fostering a positive self-image. Retrieved July 30, 2021, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12942-fostering-a-positive-self-image
Fennell, M. J. V. (2005) Low self-esteem. In A. Freeman, S. H. Felgoise, C. M. Nezu, A. M. Nezu, & M. A. Reinecke (Eds.), Encyclopedia of cognitive behavior Therapy (pp. 236–240). Springer.
Leary, M. R. (2007). Social emotional regulation: The nature and function of self-presentational goals. Self and Identity, 6(2) , 131-145.
Lyness, D. A. (Ed.). (2018, July). Your child’s self-esteem (for parents). Nemours KidsHealth . Retrieved July 30, 2021, from https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/self-esteem.html.
Markus, H., & Nurius, P. (1986). Possible selves. American Psychologist, 41(9) , 954.
Matson, A. (2016, July 6). 4 Questions to ask yourself to improve self esteem. Annabelle Matson. Retrieved from https://annabellematson.com/cultivating-self-esteem/.
Neff, K. D. (2003). Self-compassion: An alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself. Self and Identity , 2(2), 85-101.
World Health Organization. (2019). Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health.

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A Powerful New Way to Think About Your Self-Image

A way to gain a clearer view of your own self..

Posted September 18, 2021 | Reviewed by Gary Drevitch

Sense of self is a focus of a theory of Erik Erikson; your sense of self develops throughout life.
A new approach to mental health uses sense of self as a basis for both diagnosis and treatment.
By gaining a better sense of how your identity matches your behavior, your mental health can benefit.

Ever since Erik Erikson published his influential theory about lifespan development, psychologists have puzzled over how best to understand the concept of identity , one of the primary concepts he introduced into the field. According to Erikson, your identity consists not only of your sense of who you are as a person, but also the way you view your relationships, values, social roles, and abilities. Research on identity has tended to focus on adolescence , when people first begin to develop these qualities, but there are also psychologists, including myself, who believe that identity continues to play an important role in adulthood.

You can probably attest to the role of identity in your own life, regardless of your current age. How would you describe yourself if someone asked you to elaborate on your sense of who you are as a person? How has this sense of self changed over time? You know you are the “same” person you always were, but do you truly feel the “same” on the inside? How have life’s twists and turns influenced this view you carry around of your most important qualities?

Why It’s Time for a New Look at Identity

According to the University of Aberdeen’s Jie Sui and colleagues (2021), the self, or identity, “serves as an information-processing hub through which the world is experienced and acted upon.” In other words, you interpret your experiences through the lens of your sense of self and then do things that reflect this particular view of reality.

For example, you may believe that you haven’t changed at all from the standpoint of physical ability since you were a teen or young adult. If your knees start to ache, well, then, that’s due to the weather or poor quality footwear. As a result, you won’t change your behavior and you’ll continue to overwork your joints, no matter how bad it gets.

Continuing to act in ways consistent with your sense of self despite what reality “tells” you might get you by to a certain extent, but eventually it will create a disconnect from your reality. You can see how this can create problems not only for your physical health (your knees will only continue to get worse) but also your mental health.

The Scottish-led authors propose that, indeed, “self-related disorders connect with the majority of domains” covering a “range of psychiatric conditions." In order to advance what they call “precision psychiatry,” i.e. greater accuracy in diagnosis and better treatments, it’s necessary to develop “tools that capture dynamic changes in mental states and how these influence self-related disorders."

How Identity Can Affect Your Mental Health

Consider the self-referential processing disturbances Sui et al. suggest could provide a new understanding of psychological disorders. In the case of a mood disorder such as depression, for example, it’s known that the so-called “cognitive triad” of depressive thinking about the self, the world, and the future creates and reinforces a chronically sad mood.

If your identity of yourself is that of a highly flawed individual, you’ll interpret your experiences in a way that reinforces this view. Someone gives you a sideways glance at a social gathering, and you immediately assume that they’re being critical of you. As a result, you move away from this person rather than trying to engage in what might have been a pleasant interaction.

As central as identity can be to mental health, the U. of Aberdeen researchers note that measuring this elusive concept presents a major challenge for scientific study. A researcher may give you a set of items on which to rate yourself, or perhaps interview you to probe into your deepest-held self-views. The limitation of this method is that it relies on self-report and, as such, is subject to the desire that people have to present a certain view of themselves to others (so-called “demand characteristics”).

Also, perhaps just as significantly, self-report measures and even interviews are removed from people’s actual behavior. You say you feel about yourself in a certain way, but how do you really act? Do you try to appear as well-adjusted as possible if you're answering a questionnaire, but in a social situation do you engage in the kind of negative thinking which leads you to stay away from people?

A Better Way to Tap Into Identity

Instead of using the “narrative” approach, in which people tell a researcher or mental health practitioner about themselves, the Scottish-led team believes that far greater precision in diagnosis and treatment can be achieved through a multi-modal approach. In what they refer to as the “Mechanistic Ecology of Self Research,” the self becomes a central feature incorporating perception, memory , and control over emotions. This “center of gravity” underlies the way that people interact with their environments and, in turn, is shaped by those interactions. To assess that core hub of the self, a researcher or healthcare practitioner would conduct both subjective evaluations (self-report) and objective evaluations (based on behavior) along with empirical measurements such as bio-behavioral measures (e.g., stress hormone levels).

All of this information could then be fed into a set of algorithms or computer programs (i.e. the “mechanistic” part of the model) that, as is being used in medical settings, helps to formulate recommendations for precision-based mental health treatment. Although this may seem like science fiction, machine-learning and artificial intelligence , the processes that would crunch the data, are becoming standard fare in precision medicine. There are computers that can, for example, read brain scans and x-rays with greater accuracy than even experienced diagnosticians can provide.

The authors go so far as to claim that their approach would not only provide more accurate mental health diagnoses and treatment plans, but would also provide more opportunities for equity and inclusion because it accommodates “the diversity of individual needs."

These recommendations indeed provide food for thought but what implications could they have for you, an individual who wishes to understand better your own mental health via the route of understanding your identity? The most important insight seems to involve that potential disconnect between the interpretations you make of your experiences and the more “objective” nature of those experiences themselves. Sure, that person at a social gathering may be looking at you critically, but maybe that person’s gaze has nothing to do with you at all.

This kind of reality testing can do more than cheer you up momentarily. If indeed you’re trying to do your own precision mental health, keeping track of the number of times your worst fears (or maybe unfounded optimism ) are confirmed or disconfirmed can be useful data you essentially plug into your own “machine” learning.

To sum up, the idea of focusing on the self in this broad, data-based manner could help provide a new approach to mental health. Developing your own “scalable feedback” might very well help to shape and foster your identity as you navigate your own life experiences.

Facebook image: Olga Rolenko/Shutterstock

LinkedIn image: mimagephotography/Shutterstock

Sui, J., Greenshaw, A. J., Macrae, C. N., & Cao, B. (2021). Self research: A new pathway to precision psychiatry. J ournal of Affective Disorders, 293 , 276–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.06.041

Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D. , is a Professor Emerita of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her latest book is The Search for Fulfillment.

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Essays About Self: 5 Essay Examples and 7 Creative Essay Prompts

Essays about self require brainstorming and ample time to reflect on who you are. See our top picks and prompts to use in your essay writing.

“Tell me about yourself.” It’s a familiar question we are asked in social situations, job interviews, or on the first day of class. It’s also a customary essay writing topic in schools to prepare students for future career interviews, cover letters, and, most importantly, to assist individuals in assessing their personalities.

Self refers to qualities of one’s identity or character. It’s a broad topic, but many find it confusing. Before your get started on this topic, learn how to write personal essays to make this challenging topic easier to tackle.

5 Essay Examples

1. essay on defining self by anonymous on wowessays.com, 2. long essay on about myself by prasanna, 3. self discovery: my journey to understanding myself and the world around by anonymous on samplius.com, 4. how my future self is my hero by anonymous on gradesfixer.com, 5. essay on self-respect by bunty rane, 7 writing prompts on essays about self, 1. who am i, 2. a look at my personality, 3. my life: a self-reflection, 4. my best and worst qualities, 5. reasons to write about myself, 6. overcoming challenges and mistakes, 7. the importance of self-awareness.

“Google provided a definition of self as a “person’s essential being that distinguishes them from others, esp. considered as the object of introspection or reflexive action.” (Google.com, 2013) This may be as simple as this, but the word “self” is far more complicated than the things that make an individual different from other people.”

The author defines self as the physical and psychological way of perceiving and evaluating ourselves, which has two aspects. First is the development of an existential self which includes awareness of being different from others. Meanwhile, the second aspect is when someone realizes their categorical self or that they have the same physical characteristics as others.

The essay includes three aspects of self-definition. One is sell-image, or how a person views himself. Two is self-esteem, which dramatically affects how a person values and carries himself. And three is the ideal self, where people compare their self-image with their ideal characteristics, often leading to a new definition of themselves.

“Each person finds their mission differently and has a different journey. Thus, when I write about myself, I write about my journey and what makes the person I am because of the trip. I try to be myself, be passionate about my dreams and hobbies, live honestly, and work hard to achieve all that I want to make.”

Prassana divides her essay into sections: hobbies, dreams, aspirations, and things she wants to learn. Her hobbies are baking and reading books that help her relax. She’s lucky to have parents who let her choose her career where she’ll be happy and stable, which is being a traveler. Prasanna finds learning fun, so she wants to continue learning simple things like cooking specific cuisine, scuba, and sky diving.

“High school has taught me about myself, and that is the most important lesson I could have learned. This metamorphosis has taken me from what I used to be to what I am now.”

In this essay, the writer shows the importance of self-discovery to become a better version of yourself. During their high school days, the author was a typically shy and somewhat childish person who was afraid to speak. So they hid in their room, where they felt safe. But as days pass and they grow older, the writer learns to be strong and stabilize their emotions. Soon, they left their cocoon, managed to express their feelings, and believed in themselves.

Because of self-discovery, the author realized they have their thoughts, ideas, morals, likes, and dislikes. They are no longer afraid of mistakes and have learned to enjoy life. The writer also believes that to succeed, and everyone must trust themselves and not give up on reaching their dreams.

“Bold, passionate, humble these are how I envision my hero to be and these are the three people I want to work on, moving forward as I strive to become the self I want to be in the future.”

The essay shows how a simple award speech by Matthew McConaughey moves the writer’s mind and ultimately creates their hero. They come up with three main qualities they want their future self to have. The first is to be someone who is not afraid to take advantage of any opportunities. Next is to stop being content with just being alive and continue searching for their purpose and genuine passion. Last, they strive to be humble and grateful to every person who contributes to their success.

“People with self-respect have the courage of accepting their mistakes. They exhibit certain toughness, a kind of moral courage, and they display character. Without self-respect, one becomes an unwilling audience of one’s failing both real and imaginary.”

Self-respect is a form of self-love. For Rane, it’s a habit of the mind that will never fail anyone. It’s a ritual that makes a person remember who they are. It reminds us to live without needing anyone else’s approval and walk alone toward our goals. Meanwhile, people with no self-respect hate those who have it. As a result, they become weak and lose their identity.

People can describe who you are in many ways, but the only person who truly knows you is yourself. Use this prompt to introduce yourself to the readers. Share personal and exciting details such as your name’s origin, quirky family routines, and your most memorable moments. It doesn’t have to be too personal. You only need to focus on information that distinguishes you from everyone else.

Essays About Self: A look at my personality

Personality is a person’s unique way of thinking, feeling, and behavior. You can apply this prompt to describe your personality as a student or working adult. Write about how you develop your skills, make friends, do everyday tasks, and many more. Differentiate “self” and “personality” in your introduction to help readers understand your essay content better.

Connect with your inner self and conduct a self-reflection. This practice helps us grow and improve. In writing this prompt, you will need time to reflect on your life to identify and explain your qualities and values.

For instance, talk about the things you are grateful for, words that best describe you according to the people around you, and areas of yourself that you’d like to improve. Then, discuss how these things affect your life.

Every individual is a work in progress. Although you consider yourself a good person, there are still parts of you that you want to improve. Discuss these shortcomings with your readers. Expound on why people like and dislike these traits. Include how you plan to change your bad characteristics. You can add instances demonstrating your good and bad qualities to make your piece more relatable.

Writing about yourself is a great way to use your creativity in exploring and examining your identity. But, unfortunately, it’s also a great medium to release emotional distress and work through these feelings. So, for this prompt, delve into the benefits of writing about oneself. Then, persuade your readers to start writing about themselves and give tips to help them get started.

For help with this topic, read our guide explaining what is persuasive writing ?

If you want to connect emotionally with your readers, this prompt is the best to use for your essay. Identify and discuss difficult life experiences and explain how these challenging times helped you learn and grow as a person.

Tip : You can use this prompt even if you haven’t faced any life-changing challenges. The problem you may have encountered can be as simple as finding it hard to wake up early.

Essays About Self: The importance of self-awareness

Some benefits of self-awareness include being a better decision-maker and effective communicator. Define and explain self-awareness. Then, examine how self-awareness influences our lives. You can also include different types of self-awareness and their benefits to a person.

If you want to try these techniques, check out our round-up of the best journals !

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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Home — Essay Samples — Psychology — Body Image — Exploration of Identity through Self-Image

Exploration of Identity Through Self-image

Categories: Being Yourself Body Image Self Esteem

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How to Improve Self Image?

“no one can make you feel inferior, without your consent.” - eleanor roosevelt.

The World Counts • Impact through Awareness

The world counts impact through awareness, self-image: a powerful force in your life .

Your Self-Image is YOUR concept of yourself. If you were to project an image of yourself like in the movie The Matrix, what would you look like? Who would you be? Our personal opinion of our self is crucial to our mental, emotional and physical well-being. It directly affects our confidence and self-esteem, and how we interact with people and live our lives.

Why a Healthy Self-Image is Crucial to Happiness

More Emotional Stability. When you love yourself, you won’t try so hard to please other people. Your confidence will not be so closely tied to people’s opinions, which may vary from day to day. You will be self-sufficient and less needy.
Life Becomes Easier. Constantly striving for perfection is a hard task. A healthy self-image keeps you from beating yourself up over the slightest mistake. You learn to forgive yourself and stop reaching for a standard that is impossible to achieve. With this kind of attitude, you become more relaxed about life, and that will minimize your inner stress.
Better Relationships. When we a have a poor self-image, we project our discontent in ways that affect our relationships negatively. We are needy, demanding and become drama kings and queens. A better self-image will make you more giving in relationships and people will naturally gravitate towards you.
More Accomplishments. If you believe in yourself, you will not be afraid of new experiences and challenges. Because you engage in activities that promote growth and self-development, your chances of success grows too. You accomplish and achieve more than a person who doubts their own capabilities.
Avoid Sabotaging Yourself. It is true that we are our own worst enemy. No one can hurt us faster and more efficiently than ourselves. By developing a healthy self-image, you will feel like you deserve the good things in life. You will be more accepting of blessings when they come, and pursue things that make you happy. When we have a poor self-image, we don’t think we’re deserving, and we sabotage our happiness in subtle ways.

How Our Self-Image Develops

Self-Image is the sum of all your thoughts on the following:

What kind of person you think you are
What you think you look like physically
Your interpretation of how other people see you
What you are in comparison to other people
How much you like YOU
How much you think other people like YOU

It differs from self-esteem but they are closely related, like mother and child. Self-Esteem is how you FEEL about yourself. Self-Image is how you SEE yourself and how you believe other people SEE YOU. It is more of a perception, and it is not always backed up by facts. Nevertheless, whether your opinion is real or distorted, if you have a poor image of yourself, it will follow that you will have a low self-esteem.

The funny thing about self-image is that they are not always accurate. It is oftentimes different from how other people see us. This is because our perception of our self is shaped by our unique experiences, thoughts and beliefs. We will see our self positively or negatively, depending on the level of our self-esteem.

For a happier life, it is crucial that we learn to improve our self-image. Nothing can be more vital than what you think of yourself. It is what motivates all your thoughts and actions.

It is also essential to know yourself and yuor personality. Read about the different dimensions of your personality here .

Practical Ways to Build Your Self Image

So, how do we change the way we see ourselves, from negative to positive? Can we unlearn what we think we learned over the years? Can we change our opinions of who we are? The following practical steps can help you build your self-image. It’s a process, don’t expect instant results. However, just by being conscious of the way you see yourself is a move in the right direction.

Stop being a perfectionist. Accept that nothing in life is perfect. Mistakes will be made and that is all a part of growth. When you make a mistake, accept it and learn from it. It requires humility, and faith that you will do better next time.
Control Your Thoughts. We have this inner critic inside our head that we sometimes take too seriously. It whispers constructive or destructive thoughts inside our heads. Listen to your inner critic, but take its opinions with a grain of salt. Don’t believe its judgement readily. When you hear destructive thoughts snowballing, say STOP, and steer your thoughts into a productive path.
Assess Yourself Honestly. This may be where you’ll experience a pushback from yourself. It’s difficult for people to accept their weaknesses and shortcomings objectively. But if you learn how to see yourself for all that you are, you will see that along with the negatives, you have positive and lovable traits which can be developed and highlighted. Our self-image takes a nosedive when we focus on the negatives and fail to appreciate the totality of who we are.
Change What You Can and Let Go of What You Cant. You hate your hair, your nose, or your body? These days, there are ways to change that without compromising your health. Consult a hairdresser, get a nose job, and exercise. Do what you can to improve on what you have. But you must also know when enough is enough. Don’t allow yourself to be like the celebrities who went through plastic surgery so many times they look like mannequins. So, you want to have a better career and be as successful as your friends? This is where assessing yourself honestly will play a part. When you see yourself for who you really are, you will see the areas of improvement, and you can build on your weak traits. Humility is a crucial factor of learning. Only those who can accept that they don’t know everything, will actively seek wisdom.

There are some things that we cannot change. We need to love even these traits, and focus on developing other factors of our personalities that can be developed.

Don’t Compare Yourself to Others. It’s hard not to, right? But when our self-image is based on how we compare to other people, we will be in a constant state of frustration. There will always be someone better, more beautiful, stronger, smarter and richer than we are. Build your self-image based on what YOU have accomplished so far. Compete only with you. Strive to be better than you were yesterday. There is a saying that goes, “When the grass looks greener on the other side, it’s time to work on your own grass.” Focus on you. How you have lived your life and how you can improve the results of your own actions.
Daily Affirmations. Remind yourself every day of the things that you appreciate about yourself. The smallest accomplishments should be given the limelight in your mind. There are many situations in our daily lives that can make us feel inadequate. Remembering what we have accomplished so far, helps counter our self-defeating thoughts.
Surround Yourself With Supportive People. Have a group of friends who really appreciate you, and can provide you with constructive and honest feedback.

Loving our self and having a healthy self-image makes us better people in the long run. We are more giving, more forgiving, more compassionate towards others, and more capable of lending a helping hand. We cannot give what we do not have. So, our first responsibility is to gain it for ourselves - whether its love, money, success or wisdom – it all starts with you. When you have it, then you can share with others. You want to have love in your life, be a loving person. You want to help others, gain the resources to help. You want to be happy, develop good relationships. You can have a better and happier life, but it all starts with your self-image. How you see and project yourself is how the world will see you.

Love yourself, and think of yourself kindly. Remember, that you are the only tool you need to achieve your dreams.

Quick Facts about Self-Image

From 6 months to 1 year, a baby thinks the image in the mirror is a playmate. Only between 20 to 24 months does the baby recognize itself in the mirror.
One study conducted a test on women. 3 out of 4 said that they were overweight. Only 1 out of 4 really was. · After viewing images of fashion models, 7 out of 10 women felt more depressed and angrier than before.
Anorexia Nervosa, an eating disorder, has the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric illness. · In advertising, the body type of models which is portrayed as the ideal, is naturally possessed by only 5% of American women.
Only 1 out of 10 high school students are overweight, but 9 out of 10 are already on a type of diet.
Teenagers who engage in unprotected sex which results to unwanted pregnancy, often have poor self-images.
There are less cases of men with eating disorders because of the perception that they are women’s diseases.
Today’s media greatly influence the self-image of teenagers. They are told that their value is related to how thin or muscular they are.
In a study on Self-image Maintenance and Discriminatory Behavior, evidence showed that prejudice develops from a person’s need to justify a threatened perception of the self.

You can find more interesting facts about your personality here .

Wikipedia: Self-Image
Wikipedia: Self Perception Theory
Just say yes: Self Image/Media Influences
WedMD: Building Self-Esteem

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Self-Image Speech: Nora’s Case Essay

Nora used several types of transitions throughout her speech which helped her organize the flow of her self-presentation. Firstly, she used the cause-effect connective word “so” to tie the introduction with the box full of items defining Nora’s self-image (Sprague et al., 2019). Next, she used the connector “also” while describing the importance of such boxes in Filipino culture. Finally, Nora used a chronological connector, “lastly,” to make a smooth transition to her engagement ring, the final part of her current image. Overall, her speech contained an appropriate amount of connective words, making it easier for the listeners to follow Nora’s story.

In addition, Nora managed to create a powerful and effective introduction to her speech. She started her speech with a question about the parts of identity. This question was a solid attention-getter, a thought-provoking move that engaged the audience in thinking and listening (Sprague et al., 2019). Upon expressing the essential parts of her self-image, such as her profession and family, Nora delivered a decent conclusion. She openly expressed pride in her self-image and encouraged the listeners to feel the same, thus demonstrating the value of her topic.

Finally, Nora performed fairly well in terms of speech delivery. She maintained good eye contact with the audience, which contributed to the power of her message. The speech was well organized, as it had a distinctive and well-composed introduction, body, and conclusion. The only slight flaw was the pace and tone of Nora’s speech — she talked faster than normally and sounded a bit insecure in certain moments. Considering these facts, I would have given Nora an A- grade for her effort. I would have commended her for her excellent use of transitions, a solid introduction with an attention-getter, and a powerful conclusion. At the same time, I would have recommended practicing delivery in order to improve control over the tone and the pace of her speech.

Sprague, J., Stuart, D., & Bodary, D. (2019). The speaker’s handbook (12 th ed.). Cengage Learning.

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IvyPanda. (2023, November 17). Self-Image Speech: Nora's Case. https://ivypanda.com/essays/self-image-speech-noras-case/

"Self-Image Speech: Nora's Case." IvyPanda , 17 Nov. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/self-image-speech-noras-case/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Self-Image Speech: Nora's Case'. 17 November.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Self-Image Speech: Nora's Case." November 17, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/self-image-speech-noras-case/.

1. IvyPanda . "Self-Image Speech: Nora's Case." November 17, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/self-image-speech-noras-case/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Self-Image Speech: Nora's Case." November 17, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/self-image-speech-noras-case/.

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Self Image Essay

The self-image of a human is very critical to their existence as it can “make or break” their soul. Self-image is how a human would see themselves, which varies from person to person.

It is essential for teenagers, who are in high school and starting to learn more about themselves, to have a healthy self-image. A teenager’s self-image can be lowered by different outside factors such as bullying from classmates or feeling like they do not fit in. There are many ways to help improve a teenager’s self-image, such as therapy, medication, or a support group.

A person’s self-image is important as it is how they see themselves. It can be positive or negative. A positive self-image will help a person to be confident and have high self-esteem, while a negative self-image will make a person doubt themselves and have low self-esteem. A person’s self-image is not always accurate, as it can be influenced by outside factors such as other people’s opinions or the media.

Let’s use an example of a person who is good at their job. They started a firm out of their garage and have been able to grow it into a well-known business. This individual would be quite self-assured in regards to their capacity to manage and operate their company because they have a high self-esteem. For example, if you were to pick someone who adores the fashion and modeling world, that is another instance of self-image in action.

They would have a high self-image of their physical appearance and would dress and carry themselves in a way that matches that image. On the other hand, someone with a low self-image of their physical appearance might not dress as well or take care of their hygiene as much because they do not believe they are worth it.

Self-image is important because it dictates how we see and treat ourselves. If we have a high self-image, we are more likely to be successful and confident in our abilities. However, if we have a low self-image, we are more likely to give up easily and not try new things. Our self-image is formed through our experiences, what we see in the media, and our interactions with others.

As we go through life, our self-image will change and evolve. For example, when we are in high school, we might have a very different self-image than when we are in college or working. This is because our experiences and interactions with others change as we get older. It is important to keep in mind that our self-image is not set in stone and can be changed if we want it to.

That person has seen a whole bunch of clothing and accessories they considered trendy but could not afford them. This person is very intelligent. Now what could happen is because the person doesn’t have the clothing the industry has created, the self-image of themselves would be damaged because this person feels inadequate for being unfashionable or unsexy enough.

The self-image of a person could also be damaged by something that has happened to them in the past. For example, if someone was bullied in high school because they were different, or because they did not have the latest designer clothes, this could lead to that person having low self-esteem and feeling like they are not good enough.

When it comes to our self-image, it is important to remember that we are all human and that we all have faults and imperfections. It is okay to not be perfect! We should all strive to be the best version of ourselves that we can be, but we should also accept ourselves for who we are. Ourself image should not be based on what other people think of us or what society tells us we should look like.

The last example is a high school student who, despite being funny and intelligent and playing sports, isn’t liked by everyone. They try hard to be accepted but feel like they’re failing. This leads to feelings of distress and eventually drives them suicidal.

What’s going on here? The student has a fixed mindset. They believe that their worth is based on whether or not they’re liked by others. So, when they don’t meet this standard, they feel like a failure.

This is a really dangerous way to think, because it means that your self-worth is completely out of your control. It’s also totally unrealistic. No one is liked by everyone. And even if you are, there will always be someone who doesn’t like you. So, you can never truly meet this standard.

The best way to deal with a fixed mindset is to change the way you think about yourself. Instead of thinking that your worth is based on other people’s opinions, realize that it comes from within. You are the only one who can control how you feel about yourself. So, if you don’t like the way you’re being treated, change it. Don’t let other people’s opinions define you.

The bottom line is that your self-image is what you make of it. If you think you’re a failure, then you’ll probably become one. But if you think you’re awesome, then chances are good that you actually are.

The way you see and feel about yourself is crucial to your success and happiness. Attaining a positive body image is important because there are many aspects of life that are affected by how individuals perceive themselves. We encounter individuals that may have poor or negative self images that may lead to eating disorders and depression. Self-image plays a vital role in the social work field.

It is hard to have confidence if you do not see a positive image when you look in the mirror. This paper will explore how human beings develop their self image, what causes low self esteem and how to attain a healthy body image.

The development of self image begins at a young age. A baby’s first experience with themselves is through their reflection in a mirror. At this stage, they are just beginning to develop a sense of self. As they grow older, they start to form ideas about who they are based on feedback from others. For example, if a child is constantly told that they are stupid, they may begin to believe that about themselves. The way that people perceive themselves is shaped by their experiences and interactions with others.

There are many factors that can contribute to low self esteem. Some of these include physical appearance, weight, height, skin color, and ability. In our society, there is a lot of pressure to conform to certain standards of beauty. This can be seen in the media, where images of perfect bodies are everywhere. It’s no wonder that so many people have poor body image when they are constantly bombarded with images of what they should look like. Another factor that can contribute to low self esteem is bullying. Unfortunately, bullying is a very common experience for many people. Being bullied can make someone feel worthless and alone.