Self-consciousness

Not to be confused with Self-awareness, Self-concept, monitoring and social anxiety. Both private and public
Self image, or Self-perception.
self-consciousness are viewed as personality traits that
are relatively stable over time, but they are not correSelf-consciousness is an acute sense of self-awareness. lated. Just because an individual is high on one dimension
doesn't mean that he or she is high on the other.[4]
It is a preoccupation with oneself, as opposed to the philosophical state of self-awareness, which is the awareness Dierent levels of self-consciousness aect behavior,
that one exists as an individual being; although some writ- as it is common for people to act dierently when
ers use both terms interchangeably or synonymously.[1] they lose themselves in a crowd. Being in a crowd,
An unpleasant feeling of self-consciousness may occur being in a dark room, or wearing a disguise creates
when one realizes that one is being watched or observed, anonymity and temporarily decreases self-consciousness
the feeling that everyone is looking at oneself. Some (see deindividuation). This can lead to uninhibited, somepeople are habitually more self-conscious than others. times destructive behavior.
Unpleasant feelings of self-consciousness are sometimes
associated with shyness or paranoia.

3 Philosophy
1

Impairment

In the book Rhythm and Self-Consciousness by William

McGaughey (Thistlerose Publications, 2001), selfconsciousness is dened as thought thought of. It is
distinguished from simple consciousness where thought
focuses upon external elements in the world. Selfconsciousness involves an inherent moral contradiction
because the objects of thought are products of thoughts
own operation. Self-conscious thought is largely responsible for complexity in human culture. Because it anticipates what another person is thinking or, based on this
thinking, will do, reasoning is uncertain. Therefore, human behavior seldom takes the direct path to fulllment
of a desire. There is often a reaction to any pure or simple
thought that must also be reckoned with.

When feeling self-conscious, one becomes aware of

even the smallest of ones own actions. Such awareness can impair ones ability to perform complex actions.
Adolescence is believed to be a time of heightened selfconsciousness. A person with a chronic tendency toward
self-consciousness may be shy or introverted.[2]

Psychology

Unlike self-awareness, which in a philosophical context is being conscious of oneself as an individual, selfconsciousness, being excessively conscious of ones appearance or manner, can be a problem at times. Self- 4 Emotions
consciousness is often associated with shyness and embarrassment, in which case a lack of pride and low Main article: Self-conscious emotions
self-esteem can result. In a positive context, selfconsciousness may aect the development of identity,
for it is during periods of high self-consciousness that
people come the closest to knowing themselves objec5 See also
tively. Self-consciousness aects people in varying degrees, as some people are constantly self-monitoring or
self-involved, while others are completely oblivious about Main article: Outline of self
themselves.[3]
Psychologists frequently distinguish between two kinds
of self-consciousness, private and public. Private selfconsciousness is a tendency to introspect and examine
ones inner self and feelings. Public self-consciousness
is an awareness of the self as it is viewed by others. This kind of self-consciousness can result in self-

Alterity
Introspection
Looking glass self
Personal identity
1

7
Reexive self-consciousness
Self-awareness
Self-concept
Self-knowledge (psychology)
Shyness
Surveillance

References
Laing, R.D. (1960) The Divided Self: An Existential Study in Sanity and Madness. Harmondsworth:
Penguin (this book has a chapter explaining selfconsciousness).

[1] Richard P. Lipka/Thomas M. Brinthaupt Self-perspectives

Across the Life Span, p. 228, SUNY Press, 1992 ISBN
978-0-7914-1003-5
[2] W. Ray Crozier Shyness: Development, Consolidation, and
Change, p. 71, Routledge, 2000 ISBN 978-0-415-224321
[3] Nathaniel Branden The Psychology of Self-Esteem, p. 42,
Nash Publishing Corp., 1969 ISBN 0-8402-1109-0
[4] Bernd Simon Identity in Modern Society, p. 30, Blacwell
Publishing, 2004 ISBN 978-0-631-22747-2

External links
Big Brother eyes 'boost honesty'", news.bbc.co.uk,
28 June 2006
Selfconsciousness for engineers

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