ABSTRACT
This book has attempted to provide a framework for organizing the plethora of research on self-concept. A major problem in the area has been that there have been few recent theories of self-concept and thus there are few predictions and hypotheses to guide the integration and assimilation of the many studies. More attention needs to be placed on theories of self-concept, at least to bring order to the field and, at best, to make competing claims and predictions. The guidelines for such a theory were outlined in Chapter 1 and these emphasized predictions and refutation. The major purpose of the remaining chapters was to elaborate on the predictions and attempt to refute them. The aim of this book is to detail a theory of self-concept, to demonstrate how the theory can provide links between the many studies, and to identify further research. It is hoped that the reader can say “Now I understand more clearly,” but if all three intentions are not realized then, at least, the claim is that the game has been played correctly.
