Psychological Influences

Question 1

What is self-concept?

Answer 1

Self-concept: The way in which people view themselves.

Question 2

What are the three levels of self-concept?

Answer 2

1. The view you have of yourself (self-image)
2. How much value you place on yourself (self-esteem or self-worth)
3. What you wish you were really like (ideal self)

Question 3

How can having a negative self-concept affect physical development?

Answer 3

• Eating less if someone has a negative self-concept on their body

Question 4

How can having a negative self-concept affect intellectual development?

Answer 4

• Feeling embarrassed, meaning they might choose not to go to school/work
• Feeling empowered to share knowledge on their self-concept
• Feeling pressure to succeed in school/work

Question 5

How can having a negative self-concept affect emotional development?

Answer 5

• Aggression (towards others, or themselves)
• Jealousy (of others)
• Embarrassed of appearance
• Depression/anxiety
• Stress

Question 6

How can having a negative self-concept affect social development?

Answer 6

• Intimidated by others, less likely to put themselves forward and communicate with others
• Rejection by others, unable to make friends and create bonds
• More likely to be influenced by others

Question 7

What can cause a teenager to have anxiety?

Answer 7

• School work
• Family problems
• Pressure of drugs and alcohol
• Money issues
• Sexuality
• Relationships

Question 8

How can anxiety affect intellectual development?

Answer 8

• Not wanting to go to school
• Not being able to concentrate on learning
• Not being motivated to learn
• Not having time/energy to do homework etc
• Having poor sleep patterns
• Having poor memory because of lack of
  concentration
• All the above will result in poor
  performance/test results/qualifications

Question 9

How cultural background affects self-concept

Answer 9

An adolescent’s cultural background and upbringing (primary socialisation) would teach them to be proud of (positive) or to be ashamed of (negative), aspects such as:
appearance/skin colour
• religion/values/lifestyle
• family/cultural group
• accent/language
• clothes/fashion
• music/entertainment/films
• education/qualifications/career/work
• food/dietary observances
• traditions/customs/festivals/
celebrations
• country of origin