Interpersonal Communication Chapter Summary

Chapter two in the textbook Reflect & Relate an Introduction to Interpersonal Communication by Steven McCornack talks all about what “self” is and how to achieve complete fulfillment for one’s self which is also known as self-actualization. The components of self, as described in the book are, “ . . . self-awareness, self-concept, and self-esteem” (McCornack 39). Self-awareness is the idea in which one can take a moment to move feelings, beliefs, and other external influences aside and just evaluate oneself in a holistic perspective that is not skewed by opinions of others, etc. Having the ability to actually think about who one is brings a lot of power and mental stability in such a way that allows for improvement. For example,

For example, if someone emplaces the idea that one is overweight in one’s head, one is going to possibly take that into account when looking in the mirror. Self-concept is also said to contribute to how we may behave in the future by setting up goals that reflect our opinions of ourselves. In some instances, individuals may believe that they will be a successful doctor and, because of that self-concept, it becomes reality. This is known as self-fulfilling prophecies. Self-esteem is the worth of what one takes from one’s self-awareness and self-concept. This is where the question of “Do I like who I am?” comes into play. Self-esteem, more so than the other major components of self, weighs heavily on how one interacts with others. For instance, if an individual is insecure about their uneven teeth because they are viewed as an imperfection, one may be less likely to willingly interact with others in fear of judgment. This lessens the amount of friendships made and overall lessens one’s confidence. On the other hand, if one is secure of who they are, it is evident in the way one communicates and their good feelings associated with life in

I went into ninth grade as an athlete and a very outgoing person with no insecurities that burdened me. As time progressed, friends became enemies and many things changed drastically. It soon became clear that I had developed a poor self-esteem because I defined myself with the friends I had and had not defined myself as my own person. This made me feel as though I was lost in my search for who I was. As a result, I became a loner. Regardless, I knew that sooner or later I would find who I was meant to