Perceived Family Environment and Self-Concept Among Young Adults in Indian Context

Abstract

'Self' can be described in a very extensive manner, but it stays to be exclusively individualistic to a person's existence and experience. Family Environment has been known to influence the Self Concept as it was observed to have a tangible impact, with many roles inclusive in collectivistic cultures such as India. The purpose of the paper was to establish the link between Family Environment and Self Concept in Indian Context among Young Adults. The methodology used for the paper is Qualitative Research on the basis of a survey conducted upon 40 young adults questioning them about Perceived Family Environment and Self Concept. The survey resulted that in the family environment, people when in accordance to family's expectations receive affection, support, expressiveness and other conditions show positive Self Concept. But, the results also established individual components such as hating self in situations of failures, prioritizing expectations of others over own. This proves that all other factors were dependent on expectations of family, reflecting that their Self Concept is interdependent of societal roles and of roles assigned by the family. Our traditional family system (collectivistic culture) and environment, conditions us to create our Self Concept based on the parameters and expectation framework created by the family.