Self-organization

A process by which new macroscopic non-equilibrium organised structures emerge without specification from outside due to the collective interactions among a large assemblage of simple microscopic objects. Thus, these new spatial and temporal patterns arise as a result of some internal regulation in response to changing external conditions that do not specify what should be …

Self-perception

The way in which one perceives oneself. This does not refer to a single, global entity but rather a multifaceted structure, which becomes more differentiated as a child becomes older.  Several domains with different correlates have been suggested to include academic, athletic, social and behavioural conduct, as well as appearance.  Negative self-perception in certain domains, …

Self-efficacy

The awareness that self actions can be effective in producing consequences that can become predictable. A more detailed definition is provided by Bandura (1986) ‚apperceived self-efficacy is defined as people’s judgments of their capabilities to organise and execute courses of action required to attain designated types of performances. It is concerned not with the skills …

Self-esteem

A person‚was evaluation of his or her own worth; the extent to which one values oneself in terms of worth and competence.  Higher self-esteem is considered a psychological resource (or protective factor) that may reduce social stress when the person faces undesirable events or conditions.  According to Bandura (1986), it “… pertains to the evaluation …

Self-differentiation

In embryology and proposed by Wilhelm Roux (1850-1924), the idea that heredity alone promotes early maturation of structure and function within a developing organism in a non-interactive fashion.  See Dependent differentiation, Differentiation (embryology), Epigenesis, Hereditary

Self-concept

Conscious attributes and characteristics of one’s self.  More specifically, according to Albert Bandura (1986), it is “… a composite view of oneself that is formed through direct experience and evaluations adopted from significant others” (in his book Social foundations of thought and action a social cognitive theory, p. 409).  See Consciousness, Coping, Protective factor, Resilience, Self

Self-conscious emotions

Emotions such as pride, guilt, shame and embarrassment that require the development of the self and result from either calling attention to the self, comparison of the self to external standards, or negative evaluations of the self.  See Consciousness, Emotion, Self

Self-competence

Refers to the perception that one has necessary and sufficient skills in various life domains, (academic, athletic, social, appearance and behaviour) to respond adaptively to demands within these environments.  See Competence (psychology), Mastery, Self, Self-perception

Selective attention

Attention is the selective enhancement of some aspects of behaviour over other aspects. Selective attention specifically refers to the ‘selective’ aspect of attention that focuses behavior on specific tasks. Another definition derived from information processing theory is:  … control of information processing so that sensory input is perceived or remembered better in one situation than another.” …