self image

the idea of having a positive self image is two fold. first, you have to identify your real self. then, you have to identify how you actually are. if the two are intertwined, then you have a positive self image. this concept was brought about by Carl Rogers. he derived this from Maslow's self-actualization. there are many different ways to assess yourself, but most of the time you begin by either identifying you traits or analyzing different aspects of your daily life. here is a quick test to see how you view yourself.

http://uniqueness.well.ox.ac.uk/language_set/demonstration/traits/introduction.php

Tests!

there are a couple types of tests that are very common in the world of psychology used in evaluating someone's personality. the first is the Thematic Appercaeption test, also referred to as the TAT. henry murray was the one to come up with this test. it allows people to express their inner feelings by looking at a picture that could have multiple scenarios.
the next one is called the Rorschach Inkblot test. it is the most widely used test and consists of 10 inkblots. it is accredited to Herman Rorschach. this lets people express their own interpretation of the inkblots.

here is an inkblot test to try out:
http://www.theinkblot.com/

this is a little more in depth about the TAT:

hierarchy of needs

so this guy named Abraham Maslow came up with this pyramid of human needs. he called it the hierarchy of needs. after coming out with an initial diagram of how these needs are set up, Maslow also proposed that there was an additional level for certain people (Meyer 2010). it was called self-transcendence, where people strive for meaning, purpose, and communion beyond their own self (Meyer 2010). here is a basic diagram to give you a more visual understanding.

Meyer, D. G. (2010). Introduction to motivation. In D.G. Meyers, Psychology: ninth edition in
     modules (pp. 444-447). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

question...

ive always wondered, have you ever realized that you can be two or three completely different people, depending on who you're around? i wonder if its something you do consciously or uncousciously. do you realize that you're acting different, or does your mind automatically take in the situation and switch your neurotransmitters over to a certain personality? i did some research, and heres the information i found on the subject. it was actually very helpful.

this site just showed me that im not the first person to inquire about this.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110118192954AAK7pCX

most of what i found came from blogs and online forums. here are a couple more to help understand why it is that we do this.
http://www.reapteam.org/is-being-different-around-different-people-a-mask
.
make you vote to see what other visitors have said.
http://www.sodahead.com/living/acting-differently-around-different-people-good-or-bad/question-1697813/

i tried to uncover some defense mechanisms in the movie She's the Man, starring Amanda Bynes. here are some clips that i came up with and the defense mechanism i believe to be present.

this clip shows that Viola's ex boyfriends didnt accept that he once cried during a soccer game and tried to make up an excuse for why he had tears in his eyes. this stage would be rationalization.

this is the movie trailer. it shows how Viola wants to act out against her team being cut by dressing up as her brother and trying out for the boys soccer team to show that she is good enough. this could be considere projection.

i also believe that her aggression for soccer is an example of displacement, because she is using her passion and redirecting her rebellion into a safer outlet.

Hope this helped to clear those up!

defense mechanisms

have you ever heard someone say that someone has put up a front or has a wall built around them? i have, but now i kind of actually understand what it means. there are some common things that people do that show the different kinds of defense mechanisms we put up. there are normally six common ones, but i recently discovered a few more. here is a video of movie clips that give examples of nine different kinds of defense mechanisms.

titanic

I breifly remember someone telling me that our mind, in general pyschology terms, is set up like an iceberg, kinda like the one that the famous ship hit. our iceberg consists of 6 different areas, a few of which overlap. the tip of it is called the EGO-the CEO of our id and superego. it also responds to our experiences. the tip of the iceberg also accommodates for the conscious mind, which ties in to reacting to experiences. the middle of the iceberg accounts for our SUPEREGO-this area gives us our standards, judgements, and future aspirations. the bottom of the iceberg makes up the ID-this is the part of our brain that gives credit to Freud. its goal is to meet our unconscious needs and drives, both sexual and aggressive. this part demands immediate gratification. the middle and bottom part of the iceberg in our minds function at both the preconscious and unconscious levels. we are both aware and unaware at these levels, but nothing is accessible. heres a picture that clears things up: