Self-Concept and Social Comparison: Insights from Key Psychological Articles

Introduction

The articles “How You See Yourself” and “Self Concept” explain how one’s perspective of oneself affects how one perceives the world and behaves. Both works explore the idea of self-concept and focus on the elements that influence its growth. Although “How You See Yourself” concentrates on the effect of social comparison on one’s self-concept, “Self Concept” provides a more comprehensive description of the idea and its components. The themes discussed in the Noba Project textbook’s chapter on “Self and Identity” will be compared to and contrasted with those in the two articles.

Article Summary

Self Concept

The article “Self Concept” gives a thorough summary of the various aspects of one’s self-concept, such as confidence, self-worth, and person-image. According to the authors, self-perception is how people view their physical appearance, while self-esteem is how they feel about themselves in terms of worth and acceptance (McLeod, 2008). On the other hand, self-efficacy refers to a person’s confidence in their capacity to complete a particular task or objective. These aspects of self-concept are interconnected and interdependent. An individual’s self-efficacy, for instance, may be impacted by their self-esteem, which in turn may be affected by their unfavorable self-image.

How You See Yourself

In contrast, the article “How You See Yourself” highlights the influence of social comparison on one’s perception of oneself. According to the authors, people frequently evaluate their own skills, attitudes, and actions against those of others to acquire perspective on themselves (Go, 2019). These social comparisons might be upward or downward; therefore, people may compare themselves to persons they believe to be in better or worse financial circumstances than themselves (Go, 2019). The article suggests downward social comparisons can boost self-esteem, while upward social comparisons can cause feelings of inadequacy and impair self-esteem.

Self and Identity

The ideas described in the Noba Project textbook’s chapter on “Self and Identity” are strongly related to these ideas. The chapter explains how people socialize and connect with others in order to create a sense of who they are. It draws attention to how social comparison affects one’s self-image and self-worth (McAdams, 2023). The chapter also covers the implications of social identity, particularly in relation to race, ethnicity, and gender, on one’s sense of oneself.

Article Comparison

In general, “Self Concept” provides a more thorough review of self-concept and its components. It draws attention to the relationships between these dimensions and how they can affect a person’s behavior and overall well-being. Conversely, the article “How You See Yourself” focuses on how social comparison affects one’s self-concept in more detail. It provides an understanding of the ways people evaluate themselves in relation to others and how this evaluation can impact their self-esteem. Despite these variations, both pieces stress how crucial self-concept is in determining a person’s behavior and well-being. They advocate a variety of strategies, including goal-setting, self-care, and social support, to help people improve their self-concept.

The “Self and Identity” chapter of the Noba Project offers a more thorough summary of the elements that influence the formation of self-concept, including socialization, interpersonal interaction, and the influence of social identity. It also emphasizes how culture shapes a person’s sense of self and identity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the articles “How You See Yourself” and “Self Concept” offer important new perspectives on self-concept and its function in influencing a person’s thinking and conduct. Both pieces stress the significance of self-concept in increasing a person’s well-being despite the fact that their focus and breadth differ. These ideas are similar to those covered in the Noba Project chapter on “Self and Identity,” which provides a more thorough analysis of the elements that go into the formation of self-concept and how it affects an individual.

References

Go, S. T. (2019). How You See Yourself, 1–6. CommonLit.

McLeod, S. (2008). Self-Concept, 1–9. CommonLit.

McAdams, D. P. (2023). Introduction to psychology: The full noba collection. Noba. Web.

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StudyCorgi. (2025) 'Self-Concept and Social Comparison: Insights from Key Psychological Articles'. 15 August.

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StudyCorgi. "Self-Concept and Social Comparison: Insights from Key Psychological Articles." August 15, 2025. https://studycorgi.com/self-concept-and-social-comparison-insights-from-key-psychological-articles/.

References

StudyCorgi. 2025. "Self-Concept and Social Comparison: Insights from Key Psychological Articles." August 15, 2025. https://studycorgi.com/self-concept-and-social-comparison-insights-from-key-psychological-articles/.

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