Public Self-Consciousness
- Conforming to what other people are doing
- Having low self-esteem
- Not wanting to take risks
- Feeling anxious, especially around people or when thinking about situations involving others
- Limits what their attitudes is about things when in public (e.g. won’t say how you really feel about someone with other people)
- Wanting to always maintain a positive public image
- Not acting positively or even aggressively, or expressing any aggression when feeling angry
Social Anxiety
- Fearing being negatively judged by others in the classroom
- Consciously avoiding attention to themselves and having any social interactions
- Getting distressed when having to perform in front of large groups(e.g. public speaking)
- Believing any social interaction will be a negative experience
- Having difficulty working, studying, etc. when other people are involved or watching them
Hopefully now you have a better idea about self-consciousness and what type of self-consciousness students may be suffering from. Don’t worry if you think there is more than one type that you can see them having, this is completely normal.
If you think your student suffers from self-consciousness, click here to access MaxiMind’s tools for limiting their self-consciousness and maximising their mind. If you’re not sure or just want to talk about things further, then click here to book a time to talk with one of our friendly qualified psychologists.
And remember, if it’s an emergency, please call 000.
References
Panayiotou, G., Karekla, M., & Panayiotou, M. (2014). Direct and indirect predictors of social anxiety: The role of anxiety sensitivity, behavioral inhibition, experiential avoidance and self-consciousness. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 55(8), 1875-1882.
Charles S. Carver & David C. Glass (1976) The Self-Consciousness Scale: A Discriminant Validity Study, Journal of Personality Assessment, 40:2, 169-172.
Debra A. Hope & Richard G. Heimberg (1988) Public and Private Self Consciousness and Social Phobia, Journal of Personality Assessment, 52:4, 626-639.
Monfries, M. M., & Kafer, N. F. (1994). Private self-consciousness and fear of negative evaluation. Journal of Psychology, 128(4), 447.
Takishima-Lacasa, J. Y., Higa-McMillan, C. K., Ebesutani, C., Smith, R. L., & Chorpita, B. F. (2014, July 28). Self-Consciousness and Social Anxiety in Youth: The Revised Self-Consciousness Scales for Children. Psychological Assessment. Advance online publication.
Fenigstein, A., Scheier, M. F., & Buss, A. H. (1975). Public and private self-consciousness: Assessment and theory. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 43(4), 522–527.
Higa, C.K., Phillips, L.K., Chorpita, B.F. et al. The Structure of Self-Consciousness in Children and Young Adolescents and Relations to Social Anxiety. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 30, 261–271 (2008).
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).