THE SELF CONCEPT AND CONTROL

The Self Concept and Control

Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of “Self Control” in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on “Self Control” and its relation with “Personal Development”. The research also analyzes many aspects of “Self Control” and tries to gauge its effect on “Personal Development”. Finally the research describes various factors which are responsible for “Self Control” and tries to describe the overall effect of “Self Control” on “Personal Development”. Researchers and practitioners in the fields of education and psychology have long held a strong belief in the impact of self-appraisals or self-perceptions upon behavior and motivation. These subjective appraisals are deeply rooted in past experiences and playa defining role in an individual's future growth and development. As Rosenberg (1979) noted in his profound work on self-concept, "the individual's behavior is based not on what he or she is actually like but on what the individual thinks he or she is like".

Table of Contents

Introduction4

Research Questions and Hypotheses5

Statement of the Problem5

Literature Review6

Research Method10

Search strategy10

Electronic Databases11

Approach of the research11

Ethical Considerations11

References13

The Self Concept and Control

Introduction

Throughout the years, the construct of self-concept has played a significant role in understanding human development and behavior. Self-concept has been widely touted as a strong determinant in "personal satisfaction and effective functioning" (Coopersmith, 1967). The attainment of a positive sense of self has been regarded as an important factor in personality theory and social psychology, and discussed widely by theorists including Rogers, Homey, and Adler (Coopersmith, 1967; Wylie, 1974). The extensively held belief by theorists has emphasized the unique and profound impact of self-concept as an influence on all actions and behavior (choices, effort, and persistence) (Rosenberg, 1979). Recently, it has been argued that all psychological problems can be traced at least in part to issues of a diminished sense of self (Branden, 1994). Maximizing self-concept is recognized as an essential goal in itself and a method to facilitate other desirable outcomes in a diversity of settings (Marsh, Craven, & McInerney, 2003).

Self-concept is typically defined as the composite view of oneself, or the evaluation of capability in reference to that of others (Skaalvik & Bong, 2003). In the past, research in the area of self-concept tended to focus on a composite or inclusive construct such as global self-esteem. The construct was formed by the summation of self-concept responses toward various aspects of life, and used as an indicator of an individual's general self-concept (Marsh et aI., 2003a). Currently, researchers have come to recognize the multidimensionality of the construct and the psychological centrality of diverse dimensions (Marsh et aI., 2003a).

Research Questions and Hypotheses

The following hypotheses were tested through univariate analyses of variance:

There would be significant differences in global self-concept for children who received positive feedback on their performance on nonacademic tasks (puzzles) compared to children who did not receive feedback on their performance.

There would be significant gender differences in global self-concept.

Statement of the Problem

While the empirical literature pertaining ...