Age:
Self-concept changes, as we get older we start to look at ourselves different from before.
YOUNG CHILDREN: Younger children only know about a little description of themselves, like Gender, size, Hair colour etc.
OLDER CHILDREN: Older children can provide much more detailed descriptions; hair and eye colour, address, shoe size etc.
ADOLESCENTS: Self-concept can be explained in terms of beliefs, likes, and dislikes.
ADULTS: Adults can explain themselves in terms of how there life is going and if it is going tough and their personality.
ELDERLY: Older adults may have developed even more self-knowledge and developed ‘wisdom’, which younger people should listen upon.
Gender:
- Gender affects the type of employment we go for.
- Women are more likely to interrupt their careers to look after children.
Culture:
- Different cultures have different views of what is normal or right and wrong.
- Different people have different ways of thinking. Your family may have different beliefs and expectations from other families and communities.
E.g., Muslims families believe that you are to be ‘Purity’ this means that you are not to touch alcohol, Gambling, Drugs, and not eating Pork.
- People with a strong religious belief may teach their children that sex before marriage is wrong.
- People from ethnic group are more likely to live in an bigger family
Sexual Orientation:
- This is a big part of a person’s self-concept, especially to those who are homosexual. This is because to admit to being homosexual can still be a very scary thing to do
- It can be difficult to be positive about yourself if you receive negative signals about a big part of your life.
Problems in the society:
- May suffer from prejudice at work.
- May not get the job in the area of work you want. E.g.( children, care home)
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Friends may express homophobic behaviour.
D1
Within Marion’s case study, I have found that education factor influenced Marion’s self-concept. I think this because Marion’s is lacking confidence in the classroom and when she is producing work. I believe is she is feeling like this because her teacher has lower expectations of the grades she is going to get with this type of encouragement has lead to Marion feeling less educated like her brothers. With Marion, feeling like a failure the effects of this is causing Marion to have low self-esteem. ‘Students who expect to do well often will this is known as a self-fulfilling prophecy.’
In addition, within the education factor I think that Marion has never felt like she has fitted in. She might be feeling this because within school you compare yourself to other peers in your group. So from this Marion might be feeling on having a negative image because she is not getting the correct response of a peer showing any signs of wanting a friendship. This is why Marion is lacking in self-esteem, self-esteem is boasted by friendship.
