Self awareness

and growth of
Psychology
Professionals
 Objectives

What will Think Encourage and monitor student’s

we do. growth in their personal and
Feel
professional domains.
Instil awareness of a mental
Reflect health professional’s
responsibilitie, ethics and need
for self-care.
Encourage critical thinking.
Develop reflective thinking and
meta-cognitive skills.
 What Is Identity?

Identity refers to the integrated sense of

who one is - across time, situation and
relationships.
It includes personal attributes, values,
roles, beliefs, and social memberships that
give a person a feeling of continuity,
coherence and distinctiveness.
Erikson viewed identity as a lifelong
development task, especially prominent
during adolescenc, but continuously
refined through adulthood.
 Self Concept

Self-concept is the organised set of beliefs

and perceptions one holds about
themselves.
Components include; physical self,
psychological self, social self,
moral/spiritual self, ideal and real self.
According to Carl Rogers a large gap
between real and ideal self may lead to
distress.
Theories of Self

Symbolic interacttionism

Narrative identity theory

Social constructionist
 Symbolic interactionism

This theory proposes that the self and identity emerge through social interactions,
mediated by symbols, especially language.
Identity is not in-born, it is constructed, negotiated, and revised through everyday
interactions.

a) Symbols are shared meanings (words, gestures, labels).

Example: being called “competent”, “problematic”, or “successful”
These labels shape how a person sees themselves
b) Looking-Glass Self (Cooley)
The self develops through:
[Link] we imagine we appear to others
[Link] we imagine they judge us
[Link] responses to those judgments
Identity becomes a reflection of perceived social feedback.
 Symbolic interactionism

c) Mead’s “I” and “Me”

I→ spontaneous, creative, impulsive self
Me → internalised social expectations
Identity is formed through the dialogue between I and Me.
d) Role-taking
Ability to take the perspective of others (parents, peers, society).
Develops empathy and social identity
Crucial for moral and social development

Identity Formation
Identity emerges from repeated social interactions
Social roles (student, therapist, daughter) provide identity templates
Meaning is constantly revised based on interactional feedback
 Narrative identity theory

Narrative identity theory suggests that individuals construct their identity by creating an
internalised life story that gives life unity, meaning, and purpose.
We know who we are because of the stories we tell about ourselves.
a) Life Story Model
Identity is structured as a story with:
Characters (self and others)
Key scenes (turning points, highs/lows)
Themes (agency, communion, redemption, contamination)
b) Autobiographical Reasoning
Ability to link past experiences to:
Present identity
Future goals
Example:
“I struggled in college, which made me more resilient.”
 Narrative identity theory

c) Narrative Themes
Common identity themes:
Redemption: suffering leads to growth
Contamination: good experiences turn bad
Agency: sense of control and mastery
Communion: focus on relationships

Healthy identity often involves coherent and flexible narratives.

Identity Formation
Identity evolves as stories are reinterpreted over time
Cultural scripts influence what kinds of stories are acceptable or valued
Trauma may disrupt narrative coherence
 Social constructionist
perspective

Social constructionism argues that identity, self, and reality are constructed through
social, cultural, and historical processes, not discovered as objective truths.
There is no single “true self”; only contextually produced selves.
a) Language Constructs Reality
Language doesn’t just describe identity—it creates it.
Diagnostic labels
Gender categories
Cultural norms
Example:
Being labelled “mentally ill” can shape self-identity and social treatment.
b) Discourse
Dominant cultural narratives determine:
What identities are normal or deviant
What emotions are acceptable
What roles are valued
 Social constructionist
perspective

c) Power and Knowledge

Identity is shaped by institutions (schools, clinics, religion, media).
Power determines which identities are legitimised.

Identity Formation
Identity is fluid, relational, and context-dependent
Cultural, gender, caste, class, and societal norms play a major role
Individual identity cannot be separated from sociopolitical context
 What is Self Awareness?

Self-awareness is the capacity to turn attention inward and recognize oneself as a

distinct entity.
It involves awareness of:
Thoughts
Emotions
Behaviours
Internal states
Impact on others
Types:
[Link] self-awareness
[Link] of internal states (feelings, motives, values)
[Link] self-awareness
[Link] of how one is perceived by others
Self-awareness is foundational for:
Emotional regulation
Moral reasoning
Insight in psychotherapy
Personal growth
 Activity

Who Am I?
Johari Window

The Johari Window is a psychological model

developed by Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham
(1955) to explain how people understand
themselves in relation to others.
The name comes from Joseph + Harington.
It focuses on:
Self-disclosure
Feedback
Interpersonal awareness
Personal growth

Self-awareness develops through reflection +

interaction + feedback.
 Johari Window

1. Open Area (Arena)

Known to self + known to others
Includes:
Observable behaviour
Shared thoughts
Expressed feelings
Known personality traits
Example:
A student who openly says:
“I get anxious before presentations.”

Link to Self-Awareness:
High self-awareness
Authentic communication
Trust in relationships
Goal of growth: Expand this area
 Johari Window

2. Blind Area
Unknown to self + known to others
Includes:
Habits others notice but you don’t
Unintended body language
Tone of voice
Defence mechanisms
Example:
Others perceive someone as intimidating, but they see themselves as quiet.

Link to Self-Awareness:
Requires external feedback
Reduces interpersonal misunderstandings
Growth occurs through:
Feedback
Observation
Reflective listening
 Johari Window

3. Hidden Area (Façade)

Known to self + unknown to others
Includes:
Secrets
Private fears
Personal struggles
Unexpressed opinions
Example:
A student feeling overwhelmed but appearing confident.

Link to Self-Awareness:
Requires self-disclosure
Builds intimacy and authenticity
Growth occurs through:
Safe sharing
Trust-building
 Johari Window

4. Unknown Area
Unknown to self + unknown to others
Includes:
Untapped strengths
Unexplored interests
Repressed experiences
Latent potential
Example:
Discovering leadership skills during an unexpected crisis.

Link to Self-Awareness:
Emerges through new experiences
Therapy or deep reflection
Novel challenges
 Conclusion
Self-awareness increases when:
1. Open Area Expands
More honest self-expression
More accurate understanding by others
2. Blind Area Shrinks
Receiving constructive feedback
Accepting others’ perspectives
3. Hidden Area Shrinks
Sharing thoughts and emotions appropriately
4. Unknown Area Reduces
Trying new roles
Engaging in self-exploration

The Johari Window conceptualises self-awareness as a dynamic process involving

self-disclosure, feedback, and experiential learning that expands the open area of the
self.
 Personality

Personality refers to the relatively

enduring patterns of thinking, feeling, and
behaving that make an individual unique
and consistent across situations.
Gordon Allport (1937):
“Personality is the dynamic organization
within the individual of those
psychophysical systems that determine
their unique adjustments to the
environment.”
 Personality

Personality forms a core component of the

self because it shapes:
How we perceive ourselves (e.g., “I am
introverted,” “I am empathetic”)
Our emotional tendencies and coping
styles
Our typical behaviours and interaction
patterns
It contributes to the stable sense of
identity, giving continuity to who we are
across different roles and life stages.
 Personality

Personality helps deepen self-understanding by:

Providing a framework to recognise strengths and
vulnerabilities
Explaining recurring patterns in relationships and
decision-making
Enhancing self-awareness about reactions,
preferences, and values
Supporting personal growth by identifying areas for
flexibility and change
In essence:
Understanding one’s personality allows a person to make
sense of their experiences, regulate behaviour, and
develop a more coherent and authentic self-concept.
 Understanding
personal boundaries

Emotional Time Physical

boundaries boundaries boundaries

Digital boundaries Academic/professional

boundaries
 Practising asertiveness

1. Saying NO respectfully
2. Setting limits
3. Offering alternatives
Be aware of
1. Tone
2. Clarity
3. Body language
 One boundary I find hard to
maintain is…

One boundary I realise I need

more is…
Outcome
One boundary I may be too
rigid about is…
Boundaries are comfort
lines, when violated
they cause emotional
and physical distress.

Boundaries exist on a
spectrum, context
matters and culture
influences our
perception.
 Self worth

Self-worth refers to the value or sense of

worthiness a person assigns to themselves
as a human being.
It answers the emotional question:
“Am I valuable and deserving?”
It is closely related to self-esteem, but
emphasises intrinsic value, not just
achievements.
 Self efficacy

Self-efficacy (Albert Bandura) is the belief

in one’s ability to perform specific tasks or
handle challenges.
It answers the cognitive question:
“Can I do this?”
Unlike self-worth, it is situation-specific.
 Self regulation

Self-regulation is the ability to monitor,

manage, and adjust thoughts, emotions,
and behaviours to achieve goals.
It answers the behavioural question:
“How do I manage myself?”
 Summary

Self-worth reflects one’s sense

of personal value, self-efficacy
represents belief in one’s
ability to perform tasks, and
self-regulation involves
managing behaviour and
emotions to achieve goals;
together forming essential
components of a functional
and adaptive self.
THANK
YOU