The concept of self refers to an individual’s perception, awareness, and understanding of themselves as a distinct and separate entity.
It encompasses various aspects, including thoughts, beliefs, emotions, experiences, values, and behaviors that shape one’s identity and sense of personal existence. The self is an ongoing process of self-reflection, self-awareness, and self-identity development.
Self-esteem is a component of the self and relates to an individual’s overall evaluation and subjective feelings of self-worth. It involves how much one values and accepts themselves, their abilities, and their characteristics. Self-esteem can be influenced by internal factors such as personal achievements, self-perception, and self-acceptance, as well as external factors such as social interactions and feedback from others.
Self-efficacy, on the other hand, refers to an individual’s belief in their own capabilities to successfully perform specific tasks or achieve particular goals. It is more focused on one’s perception of their competence in specific areas and their confidence in their ability to meet the challenges and demands of those areas. Self-efficacy influences the level of effort, persistence, and resilience a person exhibits in pursuing goals and overcoming obstacles.
While self-esteem and self-efficacy are related to the concept of self, they differ in their focus and scope. Self-esteem is a broader evaluation of one’s overall worth and acceptance as a person, whereas self-efficacy is more specific and domain-dependent, relating to confidence in one’s ability to succeed in particular areas or tasks. Self-esteem is a general sense of self-worth, whereas self-efficacy is context-specific and can vary across different domains of life, such as academics, sports, or work.
In summary, the concept of self encompasses an individual’s overall understanding and perception of themselves, while self-esteem and self-efficacy are specific components related to the evaluation of one’s worth and confidence in different aspects of life.