Construction of the Self

Construction of the Self

How does one create the “self”? How do we form as individuals? Whether a person is male or female, white or black, rich or poor, tall or short, pretty or ugly, fat or skinny, the most important factor is the development of the “self”. The self refers to the unique set of traits, behaviors, and attitudes that distinguishes one person from another (Newman 283). To distinguish between oneself from others, one must be able to recognize their unique traits and characteristics. One must be able to differentiate between one’s own physical appearance and another’s. There are many components such as gender, race, ethnicity, and social class, which shape and influence our values, beliefs, and impression of life. Understanding the difference between sex and gender allows one to grow into their own masculinity and femininity. Recognizing the history of one’s past in regard to their ethnic backgrounds and struggle will shape the development on one’s self. Having the luxury of money and power will affect the self and the way that one appreciates the value of the dollar or lack thereof. One of the most important factors may be one’s physical features which will eventually influence one’s self-confidence and affect the self as a whole. Once an individual has acknowledged the traits of their “self”, they’re in control of either maintaining their self, or changing their self to satisfy their standards.

A baby is born and the doctor looks at the proud parents and says three simple words: “It’s a boy”, or “It’s a girl!” Before a newborn child can even take his or her first breath of life, he or she is distinguished and characterized by its gender. One important factor to know is the difference between gender and sex. Sex...

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...lly developing. Race and ethnicity help form a strong, steady foundation to lead one into the future. Although one cannot change their race or their ethnic background, there are only left to acknowledge it or ignore it, but it will eventually affect one’s self. Class brings about the way you are viewed by others and the approach you take to value your surroundings. These characteristics are important in shaping a person, yet there are many other factors that help one be distinguished from every other person in this social-structured society. Who we become is influenced by the behaviors and attitudes of important people in our lives. Humans must acquire certain cognitive capacities through interactions with others, including the abilities to differentiate between self and others, to understand and use symbolic language, and to take the roles of others (Newman 284).