This article on the research and educational implications of self-concept discusses definitions, methods, theoretical orientations, developmental conditions, correlates, changes and changeability, and pedagogical consequences of self-concept. (PN)

Observation suggests that people who strive for personally important goals disregard failure experiences or disruptions to completing a self-definition and engage in self-symbolizing in the form of positive self-descriptions designed to cover up a lack of support for the self-definition. To examine this self-symbolizing, dyads of females (N=30)…