Question

The idea that people's ideas about themselves should match their actions is called _____________ . b. conscious c. conscientiousness d. congruence

Short answer

The term is 'congruence'.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the question

Firstly, it's important to understand the sentence in the question. Here, we're being asked about a specific term that refers to the idea of people's self-concept aligning with their actions. We need to identify which of the options best fits this description.

Read through the options

Next, we should read through the options provided and eliminate any that don't fit the definition. 'Conscious' means being awake, aware and responding to one's surroundings. 'Conscientiousness' is a personality trait of being thorough, careful, or vigilant. Neither of these fit our definition so we can eliminate them.

Choose the correct option

The remaining option is 'congruence'. Congruence, in psychology, refers to an individual's experiences, behaviours, and feelings being in line, or consistent with their self-image. So this is the correct answer.

Key concepts

Understanding Self-Concept

Self-concept is a cornerstone of our psychological framework and plays a critical role in how we perceive ourselves and our place in the world.

At its core, self-concept is our overall perception of who we are — a collection of beliefs about our attributes, abilities, and unique characteristics. This includes how we evaluate ourselves in various domains, such as social status, talents, and appearance.

Improving self-concept involves a reflective process where one assesses their own strengths and weaknesses. Students often benefit from exercises that encourage self-assessment and reflection, facilitating a more accurate self-concept. To enhance understanding, educators can employ examples where characters evaluate their own qualities in relation to their actions and goals, mirroring the process of constructing one’s self-concept.

The Role of Psychological Congruence

Psychological congruence is the alignment between an individual's self-concept and their experiences, behaviors, and feelings. It's an ideal state where a person's identity, actions, and emotions are coherent and support each other.

This alignment leads to greater psychological well-being and a sense of authenticity. People feel more harmonious when their actions reflect their true selves, rather than wearing a facade or acting against their own values.

For students, understanding psychological congruence can be facilitated through case studies in which characters make choices that are either aligned or misaligned with their self-concept. This can highlight the internal conflict or peace that arises from congruence, or the lack of it. In this context, the correct answer to the original exercise 'd. congruence' reflects the pivotal focus on alignment within psychological congruence.

Exploring Personality Psychology

Personality psychology is a branch of psychology that studies personality and individual differences. It's concerned with understanding how various parts of a person come together to make them unique.

This field examines structures of the self such as traits, goals, motives, and values—elements that contribute to an individual's consistent patterns of feeling, thought, and behavior. Personality psychology includes the study of personality development, the influence of personality on life outcomes, and psychological disorders linked to personality traits.

When delving into personality psychology, having students assess different personality traits and their manifestations in behavior can be quite insightful. It helps them recognize that personality is not just about who we are but also how we consistently express ourselves in the world.