self-understanding

noun

self-un·​der·​stand·​ing ˌself-ˌən-dər-ˈstan-diŋ 

plural self-understandings

: understanding of oneself: such as

a

: knowledge or understanding of one's own capabilities, character, feelings, or motivations : self-knowledge

human self-understanding

gaining a greater sense of self-understanding

… while I can't choose what I feel, I do have sway over how I understand my feelings and that self-understanding can modify and sculpt those feelings …

—Gordon Marino

b

: one's conception of oneself especially as part of a group

Central to our national self-understanding is the idea that hard work pays off.

—Las Vegas Sun

… the attempt to put religion into a box fails to give adequate regard to the self-understanding of those religious groups …

—Eduardo M. Penalver

… the studies … show that adoptive parents play an important role in supporting their children's ethnic and cultural self-understanding.

—Anndee Hochman

… people should be free to reach their own self-understandings when it comes their status as victims (or non-victims).

—Brian D. Earp

Word History

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined above