Communication and Self-Concept

When I was 8 years old, I thought I would grow up to be a novelist. By age 12, my parents had taught me to cook and bake, and it become clear to me that I

would be a pastry chef. When I was 20 and in love with my college sweetheart, I realized I would be a stay-at-home wife and mother. When I was 22 years old and had left my college sweetheart, I was sure that I would be single and a teacher. Then I began graduate school and met Robbie, and I started to defi ne myself as a scholar and teacher and a part- ner to Robbie. Today, I am not single, not a novelist, not a stay-at-home wife and mother, and not a pastry chef, although I do bake bread every week. My sense of who I am has changed as a result of experiences and people that have affected how I see myself.

How did you defi ne yourself when you were 8, 12, and 20 years old? It’s likely that your defi nition of yourself today is different from your defi nition of yourself at earlier times in your life. Our sense of our- selves changes as we experience new relationships, situations, and people. How you see yourself today is shaped by others’ interactions with you throughout your life. Similarly, the self you become in the future will refl ect people and experiences that have been part of your life as well as those to come.

In this chapter, we will explore how the self is formed and how it changes in the process of communicating with others and with ourselves. First, we will defi ne the self and explore the central role of communication in creating the self. In the second section of the chapter, we’ll discuss guidelines for enhancing your self-identity.

You cannot belong to anyone else, until you belong to yourself. Pearl Bailey

1. What role does communication play in developing personal identity?

2. What is the generalized other, and how does it shape personal identity?

3. What are the values and risks of self-disclosing communication?

4. How can you create a supportive context for your personal growth?Reading