Question
Throughout our lives we continually develop
and construct an image of ourselves. This
image is based on how we interact with the
world. It is also formed through reflection on
our experiences and how we feel. As we get
older, the image that we have of ourselves
becomes clearer and more consistent.1 We
develop a better idea of who we are in the
world and how we feel about ourselves. This
becomes our stable and consistent core. And
this image of ourselves influences how we act
and present ourselves.
Of course, in different environments, we show
different parts of ourselves. We have different
ways of behaving in the classroom versus how
we act with our friends and families. But our
core self-image usually stays stable,
consistent, and balanced. Being able to rely
on this stability is what allows us to make good decisions in any environment and stay true to
ourselves.
Describe yourself
When you stop to think about it, your self-image is actually made up of many small ideas that
have been shaped and forged over time. Most of your self-image develops naturally without
you thinking too much about it.
[1]
1. Consistent (adjective) unchanging over a period of time
1
If you had to describe yourself by filling in the statement “I am a(n)______ person,” what would
you say? You could include descriptors like:
• happy
• serious
• courageous
• quiet
• self-confident
• timid
• friendly
• honest
• athletic
• popular
The adjectives that you connect with yourself help make up your self-image. Of course, we don’t
often stop to write them down, but it is a helpful and thought-provoking exercise.
Why does it matter?
It is important to learn about and be aware of your self-image. This is because a stable self-
image is key to a healthy sense of identity. When a person’s self-image is not an accurate
reflection of them, trouble can sometimes follow. There are two kinds of problems that can
occur with self-image. The first is social. The second is personal.
Ever-changing self
Have you ever known anyone who seemed really different each time you saw them? Maybe one
time they were really quiet and serious, and then another they seemed silly and childish, and
the next time bossy and demanding. It is very likely that if you’ve had to spend any significant
amount of time with a person like this, you found yourself feeling confused and irritated. In
order to relate to other people, we need to have a kind of steady idea of who they are, how
they react to things, and how we will react to their reactions. People having relatively stable
self-images is pretty important in having and maintaining good relationships with others.
It is also worth noticing that people whose self-image and behavior vary drastically may be
[5]
2
"How You See Yourself" by Set to Go. Copyright © 2019 by the JED Foundation. Published with
permission, all rights reserved.
Unless otherwise noted, this content is licensed under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
dealing with an emotional problem, and this might indicate a need for professional care.
Clueless self
Have you ever watched a talent show like American Idol or America’s Got Talent? Typically, in
the first few episodes, there are quite a few people who seem to be convinced they are
incredible singers or performers — when in fact they are quite obviously awful. These moments
can be funny because it may seem as if these people are just having fun on TV. But these
moments can also be sad, as some of these people seem to be totally “clueless” and believe
they are incredible singers. Here is the second type of self-image problem. Some people have a
really big gap between their self-image and their actual self. Singing in a talent show is just a
small, specific example.
You can probably imagine, if someone is completely out of touch (or “clueless”) about
themselves, this can lead to all sorts of problems — they may make a lot of bad decisions and
experience all kinds of trouble with others.
Get to know yourself
As you continue to grow and mature, take some time to get to know who you are. Think of the
ways you can complete the statement: “I am a ______person.” (See if you can come up with 10
adjectives!)
And then maybe think about how your friends and family might complete that sentence for
you. Or ask them yourself! How well do all these sets match up with each other?
As kids, we might imagine we are a superhero or a famous actor. But as we mature, we need to
sync2
our imagination with reality more and more, so that we can develop a consistent image of
ourselves. Without this, we can never really successfully connect with other people.
and construct an image of ourselves. This
image is based on how we interact with the
world. It is also formed through reflection on
our experiences and how we feel. As we get
older, the image that we have of ourselves
becomes clearer and more consistent.1 We
develop a better idea of who we are in the
world and how we feel about ourselves. This
becomes our stable and consistent core. And
this image of ourselves influences how we act
and present ourselves.
Of course, in different environments, we show
different parts of ourselves. We have different
ways of behaving in the classroom versus how
we act with our friends and families. But our
core self-image usually stays stable,
consistent, and balanced. Being able to rely
on this stability is what allows us to make good decisions in any environment and stay true to
ourselves.
Describe yourself
When you stop to think about it, your self-image is actually made up of many small ideas that
have been shaped and forged over time. Most of your self-image develops naturally without
you thinking too much about it.
[1]
1. Consistent (adjective) unchanging over a period of time
1
If you had to describe yourself by filling in the statement “I am a(n)______ person,” what would
you say? You could include descriptors like:
• happy
• serious
• courageous
• quiet
• self-confident
• timid
• friendly
• honest
• athletic
• popular
The adjectives that you connect with yourself help make up your self-image. Of course, we don’t
often stop to write them down, but it is a helpful and thought-provoking exercise.
Why does it matter?
It is important to learn about and be aware of your self-image. This is because a stable self-
image is key to a healthy sense of identity. When a person’s self-image is not an accurate
reflection of them, trouble can sometimes follow. There are two kinds of problems that can
occur with self-image. The first is social. The second is personal.
Ever-changing self
Have you ever known anyone who seemed really different each time you saw them? Maybe one
time they were really quiet and serious, and then another they seemed silly and childish, and
the next time bossy and demanding. It is very likely that if you’ve had to spend any significant
amount of time with a person like this, you found yourself feeling confused and irritated. In
order to relate to other people, we need to have a kind of steady idea of who they are, how
they react to things, and how we will react to their reactions. People having relatively stable
self-images is pretty important in having and maintaining good relationships with others.
It is also worth noticing that people whose self-image and behavior vary drastically may be
[5]
2
"How You See Yourself" by Set to Go. Copyright © 2019 by the JED Foundation. Published with
permission, all rights reserved.
Unless otherwise noted, this content is licensed under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
dealing with an emotional problem, and this might indicate a need for professional care.
Clueless self
Have you ever watched a talent show like American Idol or America’s Got Talent? Typically, in
the first few episodes, there are quite a few people who seem to be convinced they are
incredible singers or performers — when in fact they are quite obviously awful. These moments
can be funny because it may seem as if these people are just having fun on TV. But these
moments can also be sad, as some of these people seem to be totally “clueless” and believe
they are incredible singers. Here is the second type of self-image problem. Some people have a
really big gap between their self-image and their actual self. Singing in a talent show is just a
small, specific example.
You can probably imagine, if someone is completely out of touch (or “clueless”) about
themselves, this can lead to all sorts of problems — they may make a lot of bad decisions and
experience all kinds of trouble with others.
Get to know yourself
As you continue to grow and mature, take some time to get to know who you are. Think of the
ways you can complete the statement: “I am a ______person.” (See if you can come up with 10
adjectives!)
And then maybe think about how your friends and family might complete that sentence for
you. Or ask them yourself! How well do all these sets match up with each other?
As kids, we might imagine we are a superhero or a famous actor. But as we mature, we need to
sync2
our imagination with reality more and more, so that we can develop a consistent image of
ourselves. Without this, we can never really successfully connect with other people.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The text discusses the concept of self-image and how it evolves throughout our lives. It emphasizes that our self-image is shaped by our interactions with the world and our reflections on our experiences and feelings. As we age, this self-image tends to become more stable and consistent, allowing us to make decisions that align with our true selves.
The passage also highlights the importance of self-awareness and the need to have a clear and stable self-image for maintaining healthy relationships and a sense of identity. It identifies two main types of self-image problems: social problems, which can arise from an inconsistent self-image that confuses others and makes relationships difficult, and personal problems, where a significant gap exists between one's perception of oneself and reality, leading to poor decision-making.
The text encourages readers to reflect on their own self-image by completing the statement “I am a(n) ______ person” with adjectives that describe themselves. It also suggests considering how others might describe them, emphasizing the importance of aligning self-perception with how we are perceived by others as a crucial part of personal development.
Finally, the text stresses the importance of seeking a balanced and realistic self-image, as this awareness is key not only to individual growth but also to fostering meaningful connections with others.
The passage also highlights the importance of self-awareness and the need to have a clear and stable self-image for maintaining healthy relationships and a sense of identity. It identifies two main types of self-image problems: social problems, which can arise from an inconsistent self-image that confuses others and makes relationships difficult, and personal problems, where a significant gap exists between one's perception of oneself and reality, leading to poor decision-making.
The text encourages readers to reflect on their own self-image by completing the statement “I am a(n) ______ person” with adjectives that describe themselves. It also suggests considering how others might describe them, emphasizing the importance of aligning self-perception with how we are perceived by others as a crucial part of personal development.
Finally, the text stresses the importance of seeking a balanced and realistic self-image, as this awareness is key not only to individual growth but also to fostering meaningful connections with others.