Lakhasly

Self-concept in these areas also extends to the choices individuals make and perceptions they have about their health.Individuals with negative self-concepts may be less proactive about health promotion and illness prevention activities.There is also the ideal self, which is how we should be or would prefer to be. The ideal self is the individual's perception of how one should behave based on certain personal standards, aspirations, goals, and values.A discrepancy between the ideal self and perceived self can be an incentive to self-improvement.Maintaining and evaluating one's self-concept is an ongoing process.When the perceived self is close to the ideal self, individuals do not wish to be much different from what they believe they already are.

Self-concept in these areas also extends to the choices individuals make and perceptions they have about their health. Individuals with strong positive self-concept about appearance are likely to value healthy behaviors and take action to maintain the health of their skin, hair, and body tone, for example. Individuals with negative self-concepts may be less proactive about health promotion and illness prevention activities.

Maintaining and evaluating one's self-concept is an ongoing process. Events or situations may change the level of self-concept over time. Having a basic self-concept includes how we see ourselves and how we are seen by others. There is also the ideal self, which is how we should be or would prefer to be. The ideal self is the individual's perception of how one should behave based on certain personal standards, aspirations, goals, and values. Some times this ideal self is realistic; sometimes it is not. When the perceived self is close to the ideal self, individuals do not wish to be much different from what they believe they already are. A discrepancy between the ideal self and perceived self can be an incentive to self-improvement. However, when the discrepancy is great, low self-esteem can result.

Nurses, like other adults, view themselves based on both internal and external inputs acquired over many years. The ability to appraise one's own strengths, the desire to follow in the steps of role models, and the feed- back received from colleagues and clients are some of the influences on the nurse's self-concept