Self‐concepts before and after Survival Training*

Abstract

A group of adolescent boys enrolled in an Outward Bound School summer camp served as subjects. The stated purpose of the camp is to build physical stamina and to push each individual to his physical limit. Self‐concept measures and a semantic differential were administered before training began and again, one month later, at the conclusion of the experience. The hypothesis of this study stated in effect that changes in feelings about self‐worth and competence would take place as a function of a rather vigorous experience. For the most part, the hypothesis has been upheld. Overall changes in the self‐concept did take place in the appropriate direction and discrepancies between the self and the ideal‐self were reduced. Changes were general rather than specific and were related to the initial level of self‐evaluation.