Interpersonal Communication in Family Relationships

Building Self-Concept

The notion of self-concept identifies the idea of personal viewpoints and emphasizes the existence of one’s individual opinions, which evolve

independently and separately of the needs of spouses or life partners. The conception of creating a union with another person influences individualism, for it prioritizes the values of the couple over some particular personal aspirations. Since this process may lead to the emotional self-destruction, it is critical to outline some space for personal expression and development in the initial stages of the relationships.

The concept of self-identification represents a definite picture. This image serves as a mirror of one’s personal idea of his qualities or appearance. The notion is tightly connected with the concept of self-esteem. Specifically, if a person compares himself to a weak and feeble personality, this individual, apparently, suffers from the absence of confidence.

And, conversely, if personal abilities are viewed by a person as the supernatural skills, the individual tends to be arrogant and selfish. The concept poses a significant threat to personal relationships, for people, whose self-concepts are distorted or illogical, can not put up with the objective judgments or criticism, which usually comes from the side of their spouses. In this case, two potential outcomes may evolve. First, people can lose their personal views since the latter are shaded by the values of their beloved ones. Second, the individuals with unstable self-concepts may suppress the opinions of their matches (Hinde, Finkenauer, & Auhagen, 2001).

My advice to you is to build your relationships on the basis of sound and constructive estimations of one’s personal

skills. It is critical to realize that if each of you flatter the other so that to please him or, vice versa, deliberately underestimates each other’s abilities, it distracts your personal self-concepts and creates an unrealistic model of relationships, which can not last for a long time since they promote distrust, fear, and self-conscientiousness.