Which statement best describes the difference between self-concept and self-esteem?

• A. Self-concept is description; self-esteem is evaluation
• B. Self-concept is evaluation; self-esteem is description
• C. They are the same
• D. Self-concept is about others

Answer: (A)

The difference being tested is how you think about yourself versus how you feel about yourself. Self-concept is the description of who you are—your attributes, roles, and traits. Self-esteem is the evaluation of your worth—how you value yourself or how confident you feel about those traits.

So the best statement is that self-concept is description and self-esteem is evaluation. For example, saying, “I am a student who enjoys sports and helps others” describes who you are (self-concept). Feeling proud of yourself for those traits or feeling unworthy if you fail is about how you value yourself (self-esteem).

The idea that self-concept is about others or that the two are the same isn’t accurate, because self-concept focuses on your own descriptions, while self-esteem focuses on your judgment of your own value.