ABSTRACT
The self is an important element of individual development. This paper focuses on self-concept, self-esteem, and identity as the components that comprise the self, and which are intuitively integral to the healthy formation of the child and adolescent. These three components can be considered, respectively, the cognitive, affective, and self-evaluative aspects of the self. Through socialization by parents and peers and by other factors within the environment the self is formed. There are also data to support the effect of the positive development of the self on other positive outcomes such as academic achievement and positive interpersonal relationships. However, conclusions should be tempered by the fact that there is a dearth of longitudinal data. The present paper (a) defines the components of the self, including how self-concept, self-esteem, and identity are measured; (b) reviews the theoretical and empirical evidence to support the self as a positive construct of positive de-velopment; (c) provides data to suggest the developmental stability of the construct; and (d) describes the factors that affect the development and promotion of the components of the self.
