Individuality and Self-Concept

Health 7

Individuality

All people are unique. The word “unique” means “unlike anything or anyone else.”

Individuality is the state of being different from others. We each have particular qualities or characteristics that make us stand out as individuals.

Individual Physical Characteristics

There are many physical characteristics that contribute to our individuality.

Race (i.e. Caucasian, African American, Chinese)

Height (i.e. short, tall, average)

Build (i.e. slim, plump, buff)

Complexion (i.e. pale, dark, freckles)

Hair (i.e. blonde, brown, red)

Eye color (i.e. green, blue, brown)

Features (i.e. nose, ears, smile)

Individual Personality Characteristics There are also many personality

characteristics that contribute to our individuality.

Patient

Adventurous

Quiet

Creative

Honest

Confident

Hardworking

Energetic

Friendly

Self-Concept Self-concept is the mental

image we have of ourselves. If you have a positive self-

concept, you feel good about yourself. You tend to focus on your strengths.

If you have a negative self-concept, you feel bad about yourself. You tend to focus on your weaknesses.

The key to good mental health is having a good self-concept.

Positive Self-Concept A positive self-concept is the key to happiness and

good mental health.

You like yourself and think and feel positively about yourself.

You have the courage to try new things.

When you make a mistake, you learn from it and do better the next time.

You enjoy yourself, other people, and the world you live in.

When you like yourself, you find it easy to like other people.

You are tolerant of people who are different from you because you do not feel threatened by them.

You treat other people with respect, trust, and kindness. Such treatment makes people feel good. They will be positive toward you, and they may become your friends.

Negative Self-Concept

When you have a negative self-concept, you do not feel good about yourself.

You worry about failing or looking foolish, and you are afraid to try new things.

You cling to the things you know, because you are afraid to show your lack of knowledge or confidence.

When you dislike yourself, you are likely to treat other people in a negative way. You may be mean or nasty, or you may put other people down.

Unfortunately, others will treat you the same way, and you will feel hurt and angry, which will lead to an even worse self-concept than you had before.

Factors that form your self-concept

There are many factors that contribute to the formation of your self-concept, such as: Relationships

Interests

Aptitudes

Attitudes

Personality

Values

Relationships

These are our interactions with family and friends. How you relate to others is called your “social self”.

Your social self impacts your self-concept.

Interests

These are things you like to do or may want to do (i.e. art, sports, computer games, reading, etc.).

What you’d like to be or do also influences your self-concept. This is called your “ideal self”.

Aptitudes

These are your talents and abilities. You may be good at math, guitar, drawing, building things, etc.

Attitudes

These are your thoughts and feelings about yourself. For example, you might be satisfied with your physical appearance, or you might dislike how you look. You might feel that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to, or you may feel like everything you do will end in failure.

In adolescence, your thoughts and feelings about yourself change constantly. This affects your opinion of yourself.

Personality

These are the traits that make you who you are (i.e. active, shy, messy, talkative, friendly, etc.).

Values

These are the things that are important to you, such as your family and friends, getting good grades, being fair, having fun, telling the truth, etc.

Activities

My Self-Concept Chart

Visual Representation