What is Self-Concept? Self-concept is the set of stable ideas a person has about who he or she is; also known as identity. We develop our self-concepts throughout our lives. Who you think you are now is much different than who you thought you were years ago. From birth, we learn about who we are through communication with the people around us. Think about some labels you may have used to identify yourself or labels people have used for you, 10 or 15 years ago. Maybe you identified with being an artist, musician, or even an athlete. You may still identify with these labels. But, as we grow, responsibilities change. We may identify with different labels like a boyfriend, girlfriend, fianc, husband, wife, mom, dad, college student, college graduate, etc. at different points of our lives. Identities evolve. Believe it or not, they are subject to change just as your friends, interests, and responsibilities change throughout your life. There are three characteristics to self-concepts you need to remember: 1. Self-concepts are multifaceted: We all have multiple identities that are part of our overall self-concepts. e.g. brother, son, father, friend, co- worker, athlete, musician, scholar, etc. 2. Self-concepts are subjective: We identify with different impressions people have of us. One friend may see you as an intelligent scholar while another may see you as a silly comic relief. Their impressions influence how they communicate with you, which impacts how you see yourself. 3. Self-concepts are enduring but changeable: Who you are does not change minute by minute, however, as you grow and mature, your social groups will change along with your goals. You may experience a significant life event that can have a lasting impact on your identity. You can go from single to married, to parent, to a homeowner in short matter of years.