Indeed, Bandura (1997) writes, "The way in which adolescents develop and exercise their personal efficacy during this period can play a key role in setting the course their life paths take" (pg. 177). Because society is made up of people, people who have higher levels of self-efficacy in large numbers tend to change society, making it more proactive, productive, and progressive. In addition, the opposite of this is also true. Indeed, larger groups with lower levels of self-esteem and self-efficacy tend to create societies that are less motivated to change, or at least pockets within this society who have motivated the laissez-faire mentality. Furthermore, one's self-esteem, self-concept, and self-efficacy help determine how one sees one's self in society. Those who see themselves as unproductive and who believe they will be burdens to society can account for many of those who make up society's prisons and areas of social assistance. Personally, my self-concept is defined dually, both through seeing myself in other's eyes and knowing myself though my personal experiences. Self-concept, then, plays a large role in my understanding of myself. I tend to see my personal traits, accomplishments, and memberships as books in a bookcase or ribbons pinned to a corkboard. I stack these factual parts of me -- friends, As I have earned, beliefs, values, things I enjoy -- before me to get an idea of who I am and what I think about myself. Self-esteem, or my emotional reaction to myself, continues to plan an important part in my life, however. While I have a positive opinion of many of the parts of myself I have isolated in describing my self-concept, certain areas still cause me to consider whether, overall, I am a good, successful, positive...

I have a high level of self-efficacy because I have managed to complete many tasks successfully. For instance, my past educational achievements helped me develop this. Because of this self-efficacy, I am confident that the areas in which I have poor self-esteem, often areas concerned with health, strength, and physical appearance, I can overcome.
Thus, while it is difficult to define, the self plays an important role both in one's personal life and in society. Consisting of self-esteem, self-concept, and self-efficacy, the concept of the self is integral in understanding both social and personal trends.

References

Alvarez, J.M. (2009). Self-Concept. Retrieved August 2, 2009, from Child Development

Reference Volume 7: http://social.jrank.org/pages/554/Self-Concept.html

Bandura, A. (1994). Self-efficacy. In V.S. Ramachaudran (Ed.), Encyclopedia of human behavior (Vol. 4, pp. 71-81). New York: Academic Press. Retrieved August 2, 2009, from Emory University: http://www.des.emory.edu/mfp/BanEncy.html

Bandura, A. (1997). Self-Efficacy. New York: Macmillan.

Huitt, W. (2004). Self-concept and self-esteem. Educational Psychology Interactive.

Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University. Retrieved August 1, 2009, from http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/col/regsys/self.html

Mundell, E.J. (2004). U.S. Teens Brimming With Self-Esteem. Retrieved August 2, 2009,

from Medicine Net: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=94175

Perera, K. (2007). What is Self-Esteem. Retrieved August 2, 2009, from More Self-

Esteem.com: http://www.more-self-esteem.com/whatisself-esteem.htm