Psychology of Affectivity

Technical Distinction between Self-Definition and Self-Assessment

Within the affective sphere, it is essential not to confuse the description of the self with the judgment of the self.

Self-definition is a descriptive and objective process where the individual lists his or her characteristics without moral charge.

For example, a subject may define himself as "architect, 40 years old, with technical drawing skills". It is a neutral fact.

In contrast, self-assessment introduces a comparative judgment against a standard or against others.

Here, the same subject might think "I am a slow architect compared to my colleagues".

Self-eva luation is an adaptive mechanism that allows us to adjust our behavior to the social context; it tells us, for example, that shouting is acceptable in a sports stadium but inappropriate in a library.

Self-image and Projection Management

Self-image, in this theoretical framework, refers to the "public image" or projection that a person intentionally constructs for others.

It is not necessarily how she sees herself in privacy, but how she wishes to be perceived by the collective.

If someone wishes to project an image of authority and leadership, they will modify their dress, tone of voice and posture to align their behavior with that desired projection.

Psychological conflict often arises when there is a massive discrepancy between the self-image that is intended to be upheld and the individual's internal reality.

The Interaction between Self-Efficacy and Self-Esteem

Self-efficacy, a concept popularized by Albert Bandura, is the specific belief in one's own abilities to execute an action successfully. It is situational.

A person may have high self-efficacy to cook a gourmet dinner, feeling fully capable, but zero self-efficacy to solve an algebraic equation.

Self-esteem, on the other hand, is the resulting overall appraisal, the degree of satisfaction with oneself.

It is often calculated as the distance between the "Real Self" (current situation) and the "Ideal Self" (aspirations).

If an individual aspires to be a great speaker (Ideal Self) but is paralyzed in public (Real Self), that gap generates low self-esteem. The therapeutic objective is to harmonize these variables.

Summary

It is crucial to distinguish between self-definition, an objective description of the self, and self-eva luation, which introduces a comparative judgment against social norms to adjust our behavior.

Self-image is defined as the intentionally constructed public projection. Psychological conflict often arises when there is a massive discrepancy between this external image and the internal reality.

Finally, self-efficacy is the situational belief in one's own capabilities, while self-esteem is the overall appraisal resulting from the distance between the Real Self and the Ideal Self.