Self Image Concept Map

Again, rather preliminary thoughts about self image and methods in which society tends to build it up and knock it down. After all, your self image is, in the most part, not about what you think of yourself, but how other people react and percieve you.

The self image gives a sense of personal identity, and is constituted of self-boundaries; not just spatial boundaries, but all the boundaries that determine the range of the individual's experience, perception, and actions. For example, if someone has a self-image of being weak, they will tend not to do things that they believe require any sort of physical or mental strength.

Factors such as advertising, peer groups and stereotypes have always been the binding factors of self image, and is generally what an individual will look to in order to build or change their own image. In fact, it could be argued that ALL advertising of the purchasing of products is structured to make the individual feel better about him or herself. A pair of jeans that look fantastic on a slim figured model is suggesting that you too can look 'this good' if you buy a pair.

Admittedly not all people buy into this kind of celebrity aspiration an such a public way. I think that it boils down to aspiration, those people who are your role models. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, but I sometimes wonder who imitates those lowest common denominator celebrities. Someone must..

Another way that people choose to change their self image is by immersing themselves in alternative realities created over the internet. One of the current gaming trends of this type is MMORPG's (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games), these types of game allow the user to connect to a world that is populated (in the majority) with real players from around the world, with whom you can interact, co-operate, battle or socialise as a completely different persona. Your avatar (the self created character image you play in the game) is the only visible component of your personality available to anyone else that you interact with in the game, therefore it is possible to live a completely different life online.

In order to experiment with this idea I have signed up to play one of the leading European MMORPG's, World of Warcraft, where my Night Elf avatar "soothing" will be roaming the realm of Nordrassil.

I was never the Dungeons & Dragons type, but I'll have a go at this. More updates soon.