Black Self-Concept: A New Perspective

Abstract

Self-concept (SC) might be intuitively defined as the general attitude that an individual possesses about himself. A more detailed study of SC, however, leads to the conclusion that such a definition may not be as simple as it first appears. It may be composed of more variables than are immediately evident. Early SC theorists,' e.g., Syngg and Combs, Lundholm, Sherif and Cantril, Sarbin, and George Mead, emphasized the individual's attitudes and merely implied the influence of others on SC. More recently, however, SC theory has emerged along the lines which would accord others an equally important role in determining the SC of the individual. The main variables appear similar even when termed self-esteem by Coopersmith.2 These variables are (1) the attitude of the individual toward himself, (2) the responses of others, (3) the perception of those responses, and (4) the behavior which the SC elicits. With no intent to discount the importance of the fourth variable, this study will address itself to SC as it is defined by the first three. The psychological literature is replete with empirical data demonstrating that the black child has accepted the negative evaluations of his race which have been advanced by the white culture.3