What Is a Self-Schema?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSelf-Schema ExamplesHow Self-Schemas WorkHow Self-Schemas FormInfluence on BehaviorDetermine Your Self-Schema

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Definition

Self-Schema Examples

How Self-Schemas Work

How Self-Schemas Form

Influence on Behavior

Determine Your Self-Schema

Close

The termschemarefers to the cognitive structures we have to describe various categories of knowledge about the world. Like with many other things, we also hold schemas about ourselves. Inpsychology, these are known as self-schemas.

We all have ideas and beliefs about other people but we also hold the same sort of impressions about ourselves. These self-schemata impact our thoughts and behaviors.

At a Glance

Self-schemas are important because they influence our behaviors. The more we believe that a self-schema applies to us, the better we will perform on that dimension.

Additionally, if we develop a negative or unhealthy self-schema, it can be changed. So, if you want to change these self-beliefs, making them more positive, it is possible.

The Meaning of Self-Schema

Self-schema are categories of knowledge that reflect how we expect ourselves to think, feel, and act in particular settings or situations. Each of these beliefs includes our overall perceptions of ourselves (“outgoing,” “shy,” “talkative”), as well as our knowledge of past experiences in similar situations.

Self-Schema DefinitionThe American Psychological Association defines self-schema as a cognitive framework of beliefs and information about the self that guides and influences a person’sperceptionsandattention.

Self-Schema Definition

The American Psychological Association defines self-schema as a cognitive framework of beliefs and information about the self that guides and influences a person’sperceptionsandattention.

As an example, if you have to give a speech, your self-schema might be that you are shy in situations where you have to speak in public. Because you have an overall belief about yourpersonality, as well as past experiences talking in public situations, you probably have a fairly good idea of how you will feel, think, and act in this situation.

When people are very high or extreme in a certain area, they are described as being self-schematic in that dimension.

For example, a person who believes they are a “people person” and not remotely timid would be considered self-schematic in that area. If a person does not hold a schema for a particular dimension, they are said to be aschematic.

Among other things, people can hold self-schemas about behaviors,personality traits, physical characteristics, and interests. Examples of behavioral self-schemas include:

Examples of self-schemas involvingpersonality traitsare:

Physical characteristic self-schemas might include:

Self-schemas relating to interests would be:

There are a few key characteristics of self-schemas. Here are three to consider.

Self-Schemas Are Individualized

As you might have already noticed, most of these self-schemas involve bipolar dimensions, such as:

People often think of them as either/or traits, but most actually exist as a continuum, with each person lying somewhere in the middle of the two extremes.

Self-Schemas Form Our Self-Concept

All our various self-schemas combine and interact to form ourself-concept. Our self-concepts tend to be highly complex, which is not surprising since we learn about and analyze ourselves probably more than anything else.

As we go through life and gain new knowledge and experiences, we are constantly adding to or even reconfiguring our existing self-schemas and self-concepts.

Self-Schema vs. Self-ConceptSelf-schema and self-concept are related but different concepts:Self-concept refers to our image of ourselves or who we believe we are.Self-schemas are subsets of our self-concept related to various cognitive aspects.

Self-Schema vs. Self-Concept

Self-schema and self-concept are related but different concepts:Self-concept refers to our image of ourselves or who we believe we are.Self-schemas are subsets of our self-concept related to various cognitive aspects.

Self-schema and self-concept are related but different concepts:

How Does Self-Awareness Form?

Self-Schemas About Our Future Selves

In addition to holding self-schemas about our current selves, some experts have suggested that we also have self-schemas about our future selves.These reflect how we think we will turn out in the coming years, which might include both positive and negative ideas about our future selves.

There are a number of important factors that play a role in the formation of self-schema. Early childhood relationships, social relationships, and life experiences are a few key factors.

Early Childhood Experiences

Social Relationships

Psychologists suggest that our self-schemas arise from oursocial relationships. As you live your life, you meet new people and become part of new social groups. The feedback you receive from others plays a part in modifying your sense of self.

Life Experiences

Can You Change Negative Self-Schema?Fortunately, if you develop a negative or unhealthy self-schema, it can be changed. For instance, research indicates that after engaging in expressive writing, women with a history ofchildhood sexual abusewere able to change their sexual self-schemas.

Can You Change Negative Self-Schema?

Fortunately, if you develop a negative or unhealthy self-schema, it can be changed. For instance, research indicates that after engaging in expressive writing, women with a history ofchildhood sexual abusewere able to change their sexual self-schemas.

How Self-Schemas Influence Behavior

So we know that we have self-schemas about how we think, feel, and act. But how much do these ideas really influence how we behave?

In one older study, participants who rated themselves as self-schematic for independence or dependence were faster at classifying words associated with those traits as self-descriptive. For example, people who saw themselves as “independents” were quicker to identify with independence-themed words than aschematics who, in turn, were quicker than dependents.

Researchers have found that if you believe you are self-schematic on a particular dimension, you are more likely to perform well in that area.

How to Determine Your Self-Schemas

One of the easiest ways to get a better idea of your own self-schemas is to answer the question “Who am I?” Imagine that you are providing these answers only to yourself and not to another person.

Write down 15 different things that answer this question as they occur to you without spending a lot of time thinking about how logical or important they are. Once you are done, you should have a fairly good representation of some of your central self-schemas.

So what can you do if your self-schemas are negative or unhelpful? There are a number of strategies that can help you change and overcome negative or harmful self-beliefs. A few tactics that can help include:

What This Means For YouYour self-schemas reveal how you feel about yourself, and they can have a major impact on your behavior. It can be helpful to spend some time figuring out what your self-schema are, and then looking for ways to improve negative or unhelpful self-schema.Strategies that may help you overcome negative self-beliefs include usingpositive self-talk, practicing self-care, changing negative thoughts, and usingpositive affirmations. If you are still struggling with negative self-schema, talking to a mental health professional can be helpful.

What This Means For You

Your self-schemas reveal how you feel about yourself, and they can have a major impact on your behavior. It can be helpful to spend some time figuring out what your self-schema are, and then looking for ways to improve negative or unhelpful self-schema.Strategies that may help you overcome negative self-beliefs include usingpositive self-talk, practicing self-care, changing negative thoughts, and usingpositive affirmations. If you are still struggling with negative self-schema, talking to a mental health professional can be helpful.

Your self-schemas reveal how you feel about yourself, and they can have a major impact on your behavior. It can be helpful to spend some time figuring out what your self-schema are, and then looking for ways to improve negative or unhelpful self-schema.

Strategies that may help you overcome negative self-beliefs include usingpositive self-talk, practicing self-care, changing negative thoughts, and usingpositive affirmations. If you are still struggling with negative self-schema, talking to a mental health professional can be helpful.

How Your Sense of Identity Forms

7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Self-schema.Markus H.Self-schemata and information processing about the self.J Personal Social Psychol. 1977;35(2):63-78. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.35.2.63Prince D.What about place? Considering the role of physical environment on youth imagining of future possible selves.J Youth Studies. 2014;17(6):697-716. doi:10.1080/13676261.2013.836591McAurthur BA, Burke TA, Connolly SL, et al.A longitudinal investigation of cognitive self-schemas across adolescent development.J Youth Adolesc. 2019;48(3):635-647. doi:10.1007/s10964-018-00981-1DeLamater JD, Myers DJ, Collett JL.Social Psychology. 8th ed. Avalon Publishing.Pulverman CS, Boyd RL, Stanton AM, Meston CM.Changes in the sexual self-schema of women with a history of childhood sexual abuse following expressive writing treatment.Psychol Trauma Theory Res Pract Policy. 2017;9(2):181-188. doi:10.1037/tra0000163Ng C.Examining the self-congruent engagement hypothesis: The link between academic self-schemas, motivational goals, learning approaches and achievement within an academic year.Educ Psychol.2014;34(6):730-762. doi:10.1080/01443410.2013.832151

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Self-schema.Markus H.Self-schemata and information processing about the self.J Personal Social Psychol. 1977;35(2):63-78. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.35.2.63Prince D.What about place? Considering the role of physical environment on youth imagining of future possible selves.J Youth Studies. 2014;17(6):697-716. doi:10.1080/13676261.2013.836591McAurthur BA, Burke TA, Connolly SL, et al.A longitudinal investigation of cognitive self-schemas across adolescent development.J Youth Adolesc. 2019;48(3):635-647. doi:10.1007/s10964-018-00981-1DeLamater JD, Myers DJ, Collett JL.Social Psychology. 8th ed. Avalon Publishing.Pulverman CS, Boyd RL, Stanton AM, Meston CM.Changes in the sexual self-schema of women with a history of childhood sexual abuse following expressive writing treatment.Psychol Trauma Theory Res Pract Policy. 2017;9(2):181-188. doi:10.1037/tra0000163Ng C.Examining the self-congruent engagement hypothesis: The link between academic self-schemas, motivational goals, learning approaches and achievement within an academic year.Educ Psychol.2014;34(6):730-762. doi:10.1080/01443410.2013.832151

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Psychological Association.Self-schema.Markus H.Self-schemata and information processing about the self.J Personal Social Psychol. 1977;35(2):63-78. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.35.2.63Prince D.What about place? Considering the role of physical environment on youth imagining of future possible selves.J Youth Studies. 2014;17(6):697-716. doi:10.1080/13676261.2013.836591McAurthur BA, Burke TA, Connolly SL, et al.A longitudinal investigation of cognitive self-schemas across adolescent development.J Youth Adolesc. 2019;48(3):635-647. doi:10.1007/s10964-018-00981-1DeLamater JD, Myers DJ, Collett JL.Social Psychology. 8th ed. Avalon Publishing.Pulverman CS, Boyd RL, Stanton AM, Meston CM.Changes in the sexual self-schema of women with a history of childhood sexual abuse following expressive writing treatment.Psychol Trauma Theory Res Pract Policy. 2017;9(2):181-188. doi:10.1037/tra0000163Ng C.Examining the self-congruent engagement hypothesis: The link between academic self-schemas, motivational goals, learning approaches and achievement within an academic year.Educ Psychol.2014;34(6):730-762. doi:10.1080/01443410.2013.832151

American Psychological Association.Self-schema.

Markus H.Self-schemata and information processing about the self.J Personal Social Psychol. 1977;35(2):63-78. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.35.2.63

Prince D.What about place? Considering the role of physical environment on youth imagining of future possible selves.J Youth Studies. 2014;17(6):697-716. doi:10.1080/13676261.2013.836591

McAurthur BA, Burke TA, Connolly SL, et al.A longitudinal investigation of cognitive self-schemas across adolescent development.J Youth Adolesc. 2019;48(3):635-647. doi:10.1007/s10964-018-00981-1

DeLamater JD, Myers DJ, Collett JL.Social Psychology. 8th ed. Avalon Publishing.

Pulverman CS, Boyd RL, Stanton AM, Meston CM.Changes in the sexual self-schema of women with a history of childhood sexual abuse following expressive writing treatment.Psychol Trauma Theory Res Pract Policy. 2017;9(2):181-188. doi:10.1037/tra0000163

Ng C.Examining the self-congruent engagement hypothesis: The link between academic self-schemas, motivational goals, learning approaches and achievement within an academic year.Educ Psychol.2014;34(6):730-762. doi:10.1080/01443410.2013.832151

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