The self-concept in relationships

Abstract

After briefly reviewing historical thinking on the self-concept, this chapter considers three contemporary perspectives that seek to understand the link between self-concept and well-being. According to one view, well-being is reflected in consistency of self-concept across contexts, whereas a second view argues that it is authenticity rather than consistency that matters. In a third tradition, well-being is associated with coming closer to one's personal ideal view of self. Based on self-determination theory (SDT), a model is proposed in which well-being follows when autonomy supportive relationships conduce toward authenticity and convergence between one's ideal and actual self-concept.