What Is Self-Concept?

Abstract

This chapter addresses the question of “what is self-concept”. Highlighting the key insights to date from psychology, it explores definitional concerns and explains the difference and similarities between key self-related constructs. To provide a framework for the chapter which follows and to contribute towards a thorough understanding of self-concept, the chapter also describes in part the theoretical nature and structure of the self-concept construct as it is understood in mainstream educational psychology. Additional research concerning learner self-concept from both the main disciplines which inform this book – psychology and SLA – are also discussed, in order to describe its key characteristics, situate the construct in relation to other important constructs and elucidate the central role it is believed to play in language learning.