THE GROWTH OF SELF IMAGE

Self-image is the opinion - the child holds about himself, which begins to develop as soon as the child learns to think and remember. Often it is unrealistic and exaggerated because the child has not yet encountered many disappointments. A little boy may say, “I am a Superman, I can jump from anywhere.” While another boy when invited by his father to jump may say, “No Daddy, I can’t. You hold me.” The first child has an unrealistic but positive self-image while the second child has a realistic but negative self-image, which is not unnatural. In fact it is present in all individuals to a certain extent. Self-image develops slowly and like all childhood occurrences, keeps changing according to the messages, pleasant or sad, encouraging or demoralizing, that the child receives from parents and other life experiences. In normal peoples, it is fairly well established by early adulthood. Self-image is the pattern of belief that a child or a grown-up person has about himself. It includes all his assets, shortcomings, fears, pleasures, strengths and weaknesses, his looks, mental abilities, physical capacities, and even his family status. There is no end to this list of traits.