Making Connections Between the Outsiders and Self Concept

Self concept (by Saul McLeod) and the Outsiders have a big connection, which is the identities of each character. Each character and even groups of characters had different things that described their identities, and the characters even sometimes described themselves their own identities. “If there is a mismatch between how you see yourself (e.g. your self image) and what you’d like to be (e.g. your ideal self) then this is likely to affect how much you value yourself”(Self Concept). This relates back to the Outsiders because during the book, Ponyboy ask himself a lot about what his identity is. Especially near the end of the book, Ponyboy keeps asking himself why do people call him a hood when he doesn’t even do anything illegal.”A person's self image is affected by many factors, such as parental influences, friends, the media etc.”(Self Concept). This ties back to the Outsiders because the characters had a lot of things that made them who they were. For example, Ponyboy and most of the characters are greasers, but Ponyboy says he’s smart, not a trouble maker, and has grease in his hair. Those things all define his identity, and what he sees himself as, even if other people tell him otherwise. All together, identity is the big connection between these two texts. I really enjoy how both texts show how to identify yourself, and how to be truthful, to yourself.