mostly it is an individualistic nature , people's brains are different as fingerprint , that because they create different image about things and action surrounding them , for example the term mercy that have one meaning in the dictionary could have million meaning and image in peoples brains , so when someone thinks that he has mercy as million people think too , actually they are not the same, because of the term mercy have different meaning and image for each person.

Being a mental picture, created by oneself about oneself, a self-image has to be individualistic in nature. Of course, it is possible to group self- images of different individuals under particular labels ( for instance “ studious”, “unlucky”), but that doesn’t make the self- images of two persons identical.

Jinan F. B. Al-Hajaj , thanks. There has been a colleague professor talking about what he labels "Similar Self-Images". I searched for the concept but found nothing. Maybe he just came up with it.

Muthana Makki Mohammedali

I see what you mean. It’s complicated really because when I hear about “ like- minded” people and I often do, I wonder how two or more people can think, theoretically speaking, alike when in fact even twins are not proved to have the same mindset. “Similar self- images“ are not altogether out of the questions though, but I am more inclined to think that there is as much room for disparity as for similarity.

Muthana Makki Mohammedali

An understanding of Self is pretty much individualistic in nature.

Even if one was to argue that an aspect of the Self-Image has common grounds in two or more individuals, you realise the story it stems from is far from being similar and thus the imagery itself.

It gets influenced by our understanding of Self and that of others about us.

This is turn stems from how you relate to your life experiences and meanings we make out of them.

There are individual differences in undersating self. The self image of an individual is unique in nature. The real self and ideal self differes.

Nilesh Thakre , Do Real Self and Ideal Self refer to Ego and Super Ego?

Self is different concept than the Ego and Super Ego.

If self-image is of an individualistic nature, can we not arrive at some common features among different individuals who share certain psychological traits or personal experience and intellectual backgrounds? If not, then what accounts for national identity, human consolidation and empathy?

mostly it is an individualistic nature , people's brains are different as fingerprint , that because they create different image about things and action surrounding them , for example the term mercy that have one meaning in the dictionary could have million meaning and image in peoples brains , so when someone thinks that he has mercy as million people think too , actually they are not the same, because of the term mercy have different meaning and image for each person.

Aysha Albanna , Thanks. That makes sense. I wonder if there is a source that supports this attitude/fact.

hmm actually its my opinion , however I think the interactionist theory would be helpful.

Thanks for suggesting the thread, Aysha. Gonna look for it.

Self-image is related to person perception, which differs not only among individuals, but also with in the same one from time to time; I mean through the development process.

Samah Zahran , thanks. That makes sense, but what then accounts for concepts like national identity, human consolidation and empathy? Aren't such concepts based on a shared perception, hence a more or less similar self-image?

Aysha Albanna , meaning varies, yes, but probably you agree that there must be core meanings shared among individuals that include different perceptions in the same circles.

هذا صحيح اخ مثنى ، قد تكون الصفة الواحدة لها عدة تصورات مختلفة و لكنها في النهاية تندرج في دائرة واحدة ، و لكن السؤال هنا هل يوجد شخصان يعتقدان بوجود سبع صفات بنفس النسب و الكيفية؟

و بالعودة لمثال الشخص الذي يعتقد بانه يمتلك صفة الرحمة و التي قد يترجمها في تصرفات مثل التصدق على المساكين بينما يعتقد شخص اخر بانه يمتلك صفة الرحمة عندما يقدم نصيحة ، فما بالك اذا اجتمعت تلك الصفة مع صفة اخرى ، مثل انه شخص رحيم و لطيف وامين و شجاع و غيره و شخص اخر يعتقد بوجود نفس تلك الصفات و لكن بتصو و كيفية مختلفة تجعله مختلف ، و لك ان تعلم اخي مثنى انني اعتقد ان كل البشر يمتلكون كل الصفات و لكن بنسب متفاوته تجعل كل فرد مميز عن الاخرين و ليس دائما نظرة الانسان لنفسه هي نظره حقيقية فهناك الكثير من البشر الذين يجاملون انفسهم أو يلعبون دور الضحية في محاولة لتقبل انفسهم و اعطاء مبرر لتصرفاتهم.

It can be similar or dissimilar based on individual background such as gender, ethnicity, living location, religion, aspirations etc.

Yes, I agree. Thanks!!

It varies as a function of individual differences. Hence, people have different perceptions of individuals. Nothing is absolute - not even Trump.