POSITIVE SELF-CONCEPT AS A RESOURCE OF A PERSON’S PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH

Abstract

In the modern dynamic conditions, the problem of a person’s psychological health maintenance and strengthening, as one of key aspects of general health, becomes more and more urgent. Whereas self-concept is a central part of self-consciousness and acts as a system of an individual’s attitudes regarding him/herself, the theoretical analysis and an attempt to justify the phenomenon of positive self-concept as a resource a person’s psychological health is carried out in the article. In particular, the leading role of positive self-concept in a person’s effective functioning and psychological well-being maintenance is noted. The article shows that psychological health is closely associated with such qualitative characteristics as an acceptance of own individuality, understanding its strengths and weaknesses, adequate self--esteem and level of aspirations, which mainly depend on self-concept. Positive self-concept, as a resource, can be the basis for the successful realization of an individual’s potential and his/her total prosperity. Positive self-concept is characterized by three main features such as: an unshakable belief of a person that he/ she causes sympathy at people around, confidence in his/her abilities to perform a particular activity and a sense of self-importance, which are formed through the acquired personal experience, values and attitudes, and, accordingly, this person perceives the world, in whole, as orderly and favorable for self-realization. Based on the analyzed literary sources, the key theoretical and methodological approaches of various psychological schools to understanding of the concept of psychological health, which is the embodiment of social, emotional and spiritual well-being and acts as an important individual reserve of each person, are considered. Also indicators of psychological health are noted; each scientific psychological school have own views on them, but we identified the main criteria, in particular: a positive attitude, the ability to adapt, harmonious interactions with the world, adequate perception of reality, existing own values and standards. Psychological well-being is an integral indicator and is a part of psychological health as a subjective indicator that reflects satisfaction with oneself and different spheres of human life. This fact shows actual difference between the concepts of “psychological health” and “psychological well-being”, which are often presented as synonymous concepts in the literature. Thus, the analyzed issues revealed that self-concept is able to ensure the harmonization of a person’s inner world, to be the basis for adequate reaction and interaction with the surrounding world, the acquisition of identity with Self; and the integrity of the Self-image makes an individual’s behavior consistent and balanced, which in turn may contribute to the maintenance of a person’s psychological health and improving of personal effectiveness. We should emphasize that it is important to determine the impact of Self-concept on the formation of a responsible attitude to health, which is relevant and practically significant, since it is the basis not only for the preservation and promotion of human health at all levels, but also for the formation of social health and well-being in general.