Negative Self-Image
A negative self-image can make you highly insecure and be a real hindrance.
Fortunately, a negative self-image is based on learned beliefs, which means unlearning these things is possible.
A negative self-image means that most of the thoughts you have about yourself are negative.
These negative thoughts are usually based on unpleasant past experiences.
For example, have you ever given a presentation that didn’t go well?
Or heard someone make a mean comment about the way you dress?
In our heads, we have a habit of deciding that these negative comments or events represent some fundamental truth about ourselves, which is not the case.
But unfortunately, developing many negative beliefs about yourself due to unpleasant past experiences will ultimately lead to a negative self-image.
Do You Know If You Have a Negative Self-Image
You’ll notice the effects of your negative self-image in both social and professional environments.
After all, self-confidence (or a lack of it) affects almost everything you do.
If you have a negative self-image, you’ll quickly decide you’re doing things wrong or getting in the way of others.
As a result, you’ll find it hard to trust yourself and have trouble making decisions.
Here are some possible consequences:
- Difficulty making (even small) decisions
- Trouble establishing relationships
- Being afraid to be the center of attention (when giving a presentation, for example)
- Constantly comparing yourself to others
- Being (very) sensitive to criticism
- Trouble identifying your positive qualities
- Downplaying your successes or attributing them to someone else
Causes
A negative self-image doesn’t develop by itself.
Instead, it occurs due to experiences that have caused you to have negative beliefs about your appearance or behavior.
You also don’t create a negative self-image overnight; it builds up over time.
This means you can’t generally pinpoint a specific cause.
You can create a negative self-image either earlier or later in life.
Possible causes include:
- Unpleasant experiences in (intimate) relationships
- Lacking a sense of safety, validation, or belonging in your youth
- Very critical parents and caregivers
- Traumas
Consequences
You have to put in the work if you want to overcome a negative self-image.
The longer you wait to overcome your insecurities and gain more trust in yourself, the more likely you will encounter new unpleasant experiences that will reinforce your negative view of yourself.
This could lead to mental health conditions:
- Fear of failure
- Social anxiety
- Eating disorders
- Sadness
- Depression
Advice
It’s possible to overcome a negative self-image.
You do this by working on your self-confidence.
The more confident you are, the less likely you are to form negative beliefs about yourself.
Here’s how you go about that:
- Say “yes” to things more often.
- especially things you’d typically say “no” to because they make you feel insecure.
- Identify your positive personality traits.
- You could ask a friend or family member, for example.
- For two weeks, try keeping track of what’s going well and how you feel about that.
- Write down all your negative thoughts about yourself and consider if these thoughts are worth your attention.
- Write down all the benefits of increased self-confidence and what would change if you believed in yourself.
Negative Self-Portrayal Scale
The Negative Self-Portrayal Scale (NSPS) is an inventory designed to examine the degree to which individuals are concerned that specific self-attributes they view as inferior will be scrutinized and negatively evaluated by critical others in social situations.
More precisely, it assesses individuals for their concerns with social competency, physical appearance, and signs of anxiety.
Individual differences in social anxiety and avoidance behaviors have been posited to underlie differences in how individuals worry about their perceived deficient self-attributes.
The NSPS was created to tap the factors underpinning social interaction, performance anxiety, and related constructs and as a utility for clinical research and practice.