self-concept: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Academic / Formal
Quick answer
What does “self-concept” mean?
The mental image or understanding one has of oneself, including beliefs, perceptions, and evaluations of one's own attributes, abilities, and worth.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The mental image or understanding one has of oneself, including beliefs, perceptions, and evaluations of one's own attributes, abilities, and worth.
A multidimensional construct in psychology and sociology, referring to the totality of an individual's thoughts and feelings about themselves, shaped by experiences, social interactions, and cultural context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant orthographic or usage differences. The hyphen is standard in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally academic in both; slightly more common in American psychological literature historically, but now equally prevalent in UK academia.
Frequency
Low frequency in general everyday speech; primarily used in educational, psychological, and self-help contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “self-concept” in a Sentence
have a + ADJ + self-conceptdevelop/form a self-conceptself-concept + verb (e.g., improves, suffers)impact/effect on + POSS + self-conceptVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “self-concept” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The theory suggests we self-concept from a young age.
- (Note: Extremely rare as a verb; not standard usage.)
American English
- (Note: The word is almost exclusively a noun. No standard verb forms exist in AmE.)
adverb
British English
- (Note: No adverb form exists.)
American English
- (Note: No adverb form exists.)
adjective
British English
- (Note: No standard adjective form. Use 'self-conceptual' cautiously in technical writing.)
- The study examined self-concept development.
American English
- (Note: No standard adjective form. 'Self-concept' is used attributively, as in 'self-concept theory'.)
- Her self-concept clarity was assessed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May appear in leadership or HR development contexts, e.g., 'Executive coaching aims to strengthen leaders' self-concept.'
Academic
Primary context. Common in psychology, sociology, and education research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Uncommon in casual talk. Used in more deliberate discussions about personality, therapy, or personal development.
Technical
Core term in psychological assessment, social psychology theories (e.g., Carl Rogers), and educational psychology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “self-concept”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “self-concept”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “self-concept”
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'He is very self-concept' – INCORRECT).
- Confusing with 'self-esteem' (which is the evaluative/emotional component of self-concept).
- Omitting the hyphen, which can lead to ambiguity (though 'self concept' is sometimes seen).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Self-concept is the descriptive and cognitive component (what you believe about yourself), while self-esteem is the evaluative and emotional component (how you feel about that belief—your sense of worth).
It is quite formal. In everyday talk, people are more likely to use phrases like 'how I see myself', 'my self-image', or simply 'confidence' (though not synonymous).
The standard plural is 'self-concepts', as in 'comparing the self-concepts of different cultural groups'.
Yes, in formal and academic writing, the hyphen is standard. Omitting it ('self concept') is increasingly seen but is less conventional. 'Selfconcept' as one word is non-standard.
The mental image or understanding one has of oneself, including beliefs, perceptions, and evaluations of one's own attributes, abilities, and worth.
Self-concept is usually academic / formal in register.
Self-concept: in British English it is pronounced /ˌself ˈkɒn.sept/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌself ˈkɑːn.sept/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A fragile self-concept (easily damaged view of oneself)”
- “To have a well-developed self-concept”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SELF-portrait CONCEPT sketch: it's the initial drawing you have in your mind of who you are.
Conceptual Metaphor
SELF IS AN OBJECT OF PERCEPTION (one's own 'self' is something to be viewed, examined, and understood).
Practice
Quiz
Which term is most closely related to the evaluative and emotional aspect of 'self-concept'?