Role models can serve as a means to counteract the prevalent 'Think Leader, Think Male' stereotype. This study was designed to assess the impact of role model similarity on women's leadership self-efficacy, task performance and future leadership behavior, using two conceptualizations of similarity – match with leadership self-concept and attainability of the role model. Additionally, the process by which one's self-perceptions of leadership impact judgments of one's own behavior was also investigated. Participants were presented with a role model vignette in a laboratory setting, following which they complete a leadership task. Results indicated that there were no significant effects of the interaction of the two role model manipulations of various leadership outcomes. However, match of role model with one's self-concept did impact one's leadership self-efficacy. Results also indicated that agentic leader prototypes partially mediated the relation between individuals' self-concept and self-judgments, such that participants whose self-concept matched the role model activated the agentic leader prototype. Overall findings suggest that match with one's self concept plays an important role in role models being perceived as similar to the self, which can have important implications for women's leadership development. / Master of Science

It is believed that an effective way of reducing levels of juvenile delinquency is to implement preventative programs for young children. This research explored the use of a youth gardening project as a preventative program by examining the effects on self-concept. The study involved two groups of inner city youth participating in a Department of Parks and Recreation summer program. The test group participated in gardening activities while the control group did not. Self-concept was evaluated using the Self Perception Profile for Children in a pre- and post-test format to measure any change through participation in the program. Participants were also asked to draw a picture of a garden and the test group completed a questionnaire on their gardening experience. Results indicate an increase in self-concept in the gardening group. A comparison of drawings from the two groups suggests that the gardeners have a better understanding of plant anatomy and diversity. Questionnaire responses indicate that students enjoyed gardening, felt and behaved better when gardening, and thought they learned through the garden. Many difficulties greatly reduced sample sizes for this research. Future research must find ways to overcome these issues. A survey was conducted to explore common difficulties associated with research on the benefits of horticulture programs for youth. Findings from this survey are discussed, including suggestions for improving research and directions for future studies. / Master of Science

Magister Artium (Psychology) - MA(Psych) / This study focuses and draws on the fields of dance, psychology and the self-concept. Dance is seen as a powerful tool for expression of self. The Self-Concept is one of the most researched constructs in psychology. Previous research has focused on one element of the self-concept, such as self-esteem; this research considered the self-concept holistically, comprising of: self-image, self-esteem and ideal self. The theoretical framework of this research was the Self-Concept, and dance was employed as an intervention or method of researching the self-concept. The overall aim of this research was to explore the self-concept of a group of peer mentors prior to and after participating in a structured dance programme at a South African University. This research used a mixed-method approach with the primary method being qualitative. The quantitative research design was a quasi-experimental, one-group pre-test post-test design, using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). The qualitative research design was ethnography. A seven session structured dance programme was conducted consisting of various aspects of dance. Non-probability sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used. Data was collected in four phases; quantitative pre-test data collection using the RSES scale; qualitative intervention data collection via observations (field notes and audio-visual recordings); quantitative post-test data collection using the RSES scale; and qualitative in-depth interviews. Informed consent was received through informed consent forms and information sessions prior to the dance programme. There were two steps of data analysis. First was to analyse the quantitative data from the RSES on IBM’s Statistical Software Package for Social Sciences, version 25 (SPSS v.25) and Microsoft Excel tools. Second was to analyse the data from the observations and interviews using thematic analysis.

Fast fashion brands provide consumers with constantly available opportunities to update,not only their wardrobes, but themselves. As our identities have become a constant projectto work on, consumption of fast fashion involves the possibilities of trial and error ofpersonal development. Consumers are predisposed to shape or change their personalities byusing brands as additional traits. This is conceptualized as Brand Engagement in SelfConcept (BESC) to explain how consumers build and express identities. Even if FastFashion is recognized to make trends available for a democratized audience who continuallyevolve temporary identities, it is a limited researched area where Brand Engagement in SelfConcept (BESC) is addressed. As this tendency to involve brands in consumers' self-concept(BESC) is defined as an individual trait to be measured, there is still no qualitative researchto our knowledge that provides deeper insights of how this subjective objective is displayedor affecting the pre-purchase stage within the context of fast fashion.The purpose of this degree project is to develop a deeper understanding of consumers'tendency to incorporate brands as a part of their self-concept and how brand engagement inself-concept (BESC) influences the pre-purchase stage in the decision-making process inthe context of fast fashion. In order to fulfil this purpose, a qualitative study wasimplemented by applying semi-structured interviews with six individuals with the propertyof being consumers of generation Z. Pursuant to previous research that states how thesegeneral tendencies of BESC varies amongst individuals, we were able to identify diversegeneral tendencies in the empirical findings of involving brands in self-concept.These various indications of involvements were represented by the identified themesreflecting how the consumers are applying the silent, but expressive languages of clothing,regarding their representation of themselves through what they wear, awareness of trendsand the extent of purchasing.With regard to these identified indications of involving brands in self-concept to differentextent, our empirical findings resulted in themes, addressing how the pre-purchase stagewas influenced in the context of fast fashion. Our results show how the pre-purchase stageis initiated by recognizing a need or opportunity congruent with the self-concept.Additionally, as information is searched, this stage is influenced by the involvement ofbrands in the self-concept by the identified themes: inspiration, coincidence and familiarity.As the evaluation of alternatives is made, the themes of “considerations to social context”and “the fit” are identified as being influenced by BESC. The consumers' self-concept hasbeen found to be defining the extent of influence, in terms of composing the reference tocompare fast fashion brand personalities with. Consequently, we draw the conclusion thatthe negative associations of fast fashion limited the involvement of fast fashion brands inthe self-concept as these personalities were considered unappealing by representing cheap,quick compliance, low quality and unethical values. Our results demonstrate how the needfor social consistency and approval motivates young consumers to involve fast fashionbrands in their self-concept. This is contradicting displayed in terms of buying the basicassortments with the absence of fast-moving trends.

One of the aims of this study was to look at the difference in self-concept between traditional and non-traditional community college students. This study also examined self-concept differences based on ethnicity and gender and focused specifically on community college students in one or more developmental courses. Students from developmental math, reading, and English classes were given the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale: Second Edition survey (see Appendix B for a list of the questions on the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale: Second Edition). Students were asked to complete the long form consisting of 82 questions using Likert Scale responses from 1-Always False to 5-Always True. The results showed that among the 135 developmental students participating in this study, the total self-concept score did not differ statistically between traditional and non-traditional students. This study did, however, show that the mean value score for Black students was statistically significant and higher when compared to White students. All other ethnic groups were statistically equal. There was also no statistical difference in self-concept score based on gender. The overall self-concept score mean value fell in the 29th percentile for the students in the survey. This was well below the desired 50th percentile range between 296 and 299 as the cutoff point for high self-concept as referenced in the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale: Second Edition Profile chart for the Adult Form. Based on the results of this study, the self-concept score was proven to be a bi-product of student background and academic success. Self-concept can be a valuable pre-test and post-test tool for measuring the impact of developmental programs. Academic success raises self-concept, and given the statistical significance of the difference between the scores of Black developmental students and White developmental students, more research is warranted. The results from this study of developmental students provide additional support for the use of a self-concept score as a pre-test and post-test metric. Other than the pass or fail grade that a student may receive, the self-concept score can be used as a reliable way of measuring the impact of programs designed to improve retention and graduation rates of community college students.

Att sociala medier och dess användarantal har ökat avsevärt de senaste åren kan knappast ha undgått någon. Som en konsekvens av detta produceras idag enorma mängder data som kommit att tituleras “The Big Data”. Det råder idag en stor hype kring begreppet och de affärsmässiga möjligheter som fenomenet skapar. I relation till en explosionsartad användning av sociala medier och med den entusiasm som “The Big Data” har mötts av, har vi observerat ett annat fenomen: konsumenter som hashtaggar sina Instagrambilder med varumärken och produktnamn. Det finns företag som redan har uppmärksammat detta fenomen och som idag arbetar aktivt på Instagram, men det saknas forskning som berör ämnet. Studiens syfte är därför att beskriva och förklara konsumenters tillämpning av varumärkeshashtaggar på Instagram. Eftersom det fanns en brist på teoretisk och empirisk forskning inom ämnesområdet har vi valt att göra en grundad teori där vi samlat in och analyserat Instagrambilder med varumärkeshashtaggar. Undersökningen genererade en teori som redogör för konsumenters tillämpning av varumärkeshashtaggar på Instagram och hur dessa används för att artikulera the Self-concept. Teorin skildrar även hur varumärkeshashtaggar används som ett verktyg i denna sociala process, detta på två sätt: dels som en symbolisk etikett och dels då den kontextualiserar användarnas bilder i en önskad kontext. Teorin bidrar med att öppna upp det forskningsfält som vi identifierat som outforskat, samt med en initial förståelse av fenomenet och förhoppningsvis en uppmuntran till vidare forskning inom området. / The growth of Social media and its increased user numbers in recent years hasn’t gone unnoticed. As a consequence, huge amounts of data are being produced by the users that have come to be recognized as "The Big Data ". Today there’s a great excitement over the concept and the business opportunities that the phenomenon creates. In relation to an explosion in the use of social media and with the enthusiasm that "Big Data" has created, we have observed another phenomenon: Consumers who “hashtagg” their Instagrampictures with brands. There are companies that already have drawn attention to this phenomenon and who are actively engaged on Instagram today, but there is a lack of research on the topic. The purpose of this study is to describe and explain consumer application of brandhashtags on Instagram. Since there is a lack of theoretical and empirical research in the field, we have chosen to do a grounded theory approach where we collected and analyzed Instagrampictures with brandhashtags. The study generated a theory that accounts for consumer application of brandhashtags on Instagram and how these are used to articulate the Self-concept. The theory also describes how brandhashtags are being used as a set of tools in this social process, this in two ways: to serve as a symbolic label and by contextualizing the users images in a desired context. The theory contributes by exploring the field of research that we have identified as unexplored, and offers an initial understanding of the phenomenon and hopefully an encouragement to further research in the area.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the self-concept of juvenile delinquents and to compare it with the self-concept of non-delinquent adolescents. The aspects of the self and their role in self-concept formation were outlined. Psychosocial and moral development were discussed, as well as factors that affect moral development. Juvenile delinquency was studied. Poverty and lack of parental care stood out as the main causes of juvenile delinquency. The South African juvenile justice system was also investigated. The Adolescent Self-concept Scale was administered to 20 delinquent and 20 nondelinquent adolescents. The results revealed that there is a significant difference between the self-concept of juvenile delinquents and that of non-delinquents. The delinquent group was found to have a low general self-concept. In order to determine how delinquent behaviour influences the self-concept and vice versa, one respondent from the delinquent group was randomly selected and an indepth study was carried out. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (with specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)

The theoretical part of the thesis deals with the topics of self-concept and motherhood. The part that deals with self-concept contains its definition, possible ways for it to be studied, its aspects, structure and dynamics. It also describes aspects examined in the research part i.e. self-concept clarity and self-esteem and provides an overview of commonly used methods for self-concept research. The part about motherhood formulates motherhood as a social construct and a biological aspect; it deals with the ambivalence to motherhood, motherhood and partner relationships, motherhood and work. Finally, it deals with the published research on the topic of self-concept in motherhood. The research part deals with self-concept clarity and self-esteem during motherhood. The aim is to explore self-concept clarity and self-esteem of mothers on parental leave with their first child old between (0.5-4 years) and compare them with mothers, which are also on parental leave with their first child old between (0.5-4 years) and work regularly; and also childless women aged 25 to 35 years. The following diagnostic tools were used that purpose: Self-concept Clarity Scale, Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale, NEO-FFI.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the self-concept of juvenile delinquents and to compare it with the self-concept of non-delinquent adolescents. The aspects of the self and their role in self-concept formation were outlined. Psychosocial and moral development were discussed, as well as factors that affect moral development. Juvenile delinquency was studied. Poverty and lack of parental care stood out as the main causes of juvenile delinquency. The South African juvenile justice system was also investigated. The Adolescent Self-concept Scale was administered to 20 delinquent and 20 nondelinquent adolescents. The results revealed that there is a significant difference between the self-concept of juvenile delinquents and that of non-delinquents. The delinquent group was found to have a low general self-concept. In order to determine how delinquent behaviour influences the self-concept and vice versa, one respondent from the delinquent group was randomly selected and an indepth study was carried out. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (with specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)

The problem of this study was to determine the relationship of the self concept, ideal self concept, values, and parental self concept to the vocational aspiration of adolescent Negro males.