Social Psychology: Concepts of Self

Posted: March 27th, 2020

Social Psychology: Concepts of Self

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Social Psychology: Concepts of Self

I used to compare myself to other people, including close friends and relatives. My constant engagement in this habit forced me to question my skills and personality. Personally, I was never confident in academics or social life because I always felt inadequate in these areas. However, there was opportunity for me to speak on behalf of other children at the synagogue. The event was significant due to the impact that it could potentially bring upon a person’s position and standing within their community. However, while the organizers gave me the first chance, I declined because I felt that I was not qualified and that other children were much better. This lack of confidence eventually changed as I became older, and it has since become more natural for me to participate in social activities like these.

 Self-concept constitutes the ideas and perceptions that people have regarding themselves. This model of self can change from childhood to adulthood. The traits and characteristics that people used to define themselves when they were younger can change as they become older. My self-concept establishes the leadership style that I will most likely use. Having a clear idea of my identity and my self-concept is essential in choosing the attitude I should have in everything I do.

Joining college was a new and excellent learning experience for me. In college, I met many different people, but it took me a while to form any meaningful friendships. First, I thought that my roommate was aloof and rude. My own perception made me avoid her. It was only later that I learned that she was a moral and reserved person. In other words, I had formed an inaccurate observation of her. Self-perception comprises our understanding of others. It can include trying to read nonverbal cues such as facial expressions and body posture. Moreover, individual experiences can also influence it. One can seek to understand people’s motives for their behavior and traits. Further, social perception may have its flaws as it depends on the information that people have, which might be insufficient to form accurate impressions (Napier & Gershenfeld, 2004). Nevertheless, self-perception is vital in leadership as the measures that leaders use to create the ideas of others will determine how well or how poorly they get along with their subordinates. Leaders need to understand the different aspects of their followers, hence the need to form correct self-perception. College is an excellent learning ground for improving one’s social skills.

When I was young, I pretended to like baseball as I thought that this was the only way I could gain acceptance. As I was not good at forming friendships, I had to struggle. Thus, I assumed that conforming to the norm was the only way I could gain the approval of others. Most of the children in the neighborhood liked going to the park and playing, while others preferred dancing. So, I decided to play even though I did not like the game. Social influence is strong, and it can lead to changes in behavior. A person can thus cause another to modify his or her behavior either intentionally or unintentionally (Napier & Gershenfeld, 2004). There are three different approaches to behavioral modification: conformity, obedience, and compliance. Personally, I decided to conform; thus I changed my behavior to be like the others.

In summary, I have learned from my experiences that developing a solid self-concept is essential for leadership as it is a necessary tool for interpreting other people’s behavior. In my younger years, I learned the value of conformity and applied it in order to foster good relationships with the other children in my neighborhood. In college, I learned that I should be more objective when it comes to perception. Thus, understanding self-concept is imperative as a leader, especially in trying to understand subordinate behavior.

Reference

Napier, R. W., & Gershenfeld, M. K. (2004). Groups: theory and experience (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.