Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification03:00

Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification

Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison02:57

The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison

According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...
Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other01:20

Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other

According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group effort.
Self-Concept01:19

Self-Concept

Self-concept is the cognitive and emotional understanding individuals hold about their identity. It evolves through various developmental stages, beginning in infancy and maturing as children grow. This concept influences how individuals perceive their abilities, interact with others, and manage challenges throughout life.
Infancy and Emerging Recognition
During infancy, self-concept is virtually nonexistent. Babies do not distinguish themselves as separate entities and often mistake their...
Self-Schemas02:16

Self-Schemas

In general, a schema is a mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts (Bartlett, 1932). There are many different types of schemata, and they all have one thing in common: schemata are a method of organizing information that allows the brain to work more efficiently. When a schema is activated, the brain makes immediate assumptions about the person or object being observed.
Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison01:27

Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison

Social comparison plays a fundamental role in the evaluation of personal success and self-worth. Rather than assessing our achievements in isolation, we interpret their significance relative to personal goals and critically in comparison to the performance of others. A grade of B in a mathematics exam might elicit pride if one's expectation was a C, yet result in disappointment if an A was anticipated or if peers achieved superior results. These comparative evaluations illustrate how both...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Promoting Research Excellence in Down Syndrome: Proceedings of the 5th International Conference of the Trisomy 21 Research Society.

Neuromolecular medicine·2026
Same author

Neuropathic Pain Severity Is Associated With Opioid Use in Adults With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: A Spinal Cord Injury Model System Study.

Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitation·2026
Same author

One-Year Weight Loss Following a Remote Culinary Medicine Program: A Bi-Center Randomized Controlled Trial.

Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)·2026
Same author

Estimation of the number of people with Down syndrome in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics·2026
Same author

The Detection of Down Syndrome Arthritis in Clinical Practice: A Multicenter, International Pilot and Feasibility Study of a Down Syndrome-Specific Musculoskeletal Screening Tool.

American journal of medical genetics. Part A·2025
Same author

Development and Validation of a Health Measure for Down Syndrome.

The Journal of pediatrics·2025
Same journal

Re-Identification of the Panamanian Guna/Kuna/Cuna OCA2 Founder Association Through Two American-Born Siblings.

American journal of medical genetics. Part A·2026
Same journal

Biallelic Variant in HAPLN1 is Associated With Skeletal Dysplasia With or Without Congenital Heart Disease.

American journal of medical genetics. Part A·2026
Same journal

MYH11-Related Hereditary Type 2 Visceral Myopathy in a Large Kindred: Diagnostic Odyssey With Milder Clinical Manifestations.

American journal of medical genetics. Part A·2026
Same journal

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in Phenylketonuria: A Systematic Review of Brain Metabolism Beyond Phenylalanine.

American journal of medical genetics. Part A·2026
Same journal

Re: "Clinical Insights From a Case of Sifrim-Hitz-Weiss Syndrome With a CHD4 Variant: Expanding the Phenotypic Spectrum and Its Response to Growth Hormone Therapy".

American journal of medical genetics. Part A·2026
Same journal

Severe ADEM-Like Neuroinflammatory Disease and Cerebrovascular Fragility With Recurrent Pseudoaneurysms and Moyamoya in a Familial Germline CBL Mutation: Expanding the Clinical Phenotype.

American journal of medical genetics. Part A·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae
04:51

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae

Published on: July 8, 2025

Self-perceptions from people with Down syndrome.

Brian G Skotko1, Susan P Levine, Richard Goldstein

  • 1Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, Massachusetts, USA. brian.skotko@childrens.harvard.edu

American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part A
|September 13, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

People with Down syndrome (DS) report high life satisfaction, happiness with self-identity, and strong family bonds. Their experiences offer valuable insights for parents and healthcare providers regarding the quality of life for individuals with DS.

More Related Videos

Creating Virtual-hand and Virtual-face Illusions to Investigate Self-representation
06:53

Creating Virtual-hand and Virtual-face Illusions to Investigate Self-representation

Published on: March 1, 2017

Observing the Transformation of Bodily Self-consciousness in the Squeeze-machine Experiment
07:20

Observing the Transformation of Bodily Self-consciousness in the Squeeze-machine Experiment

Published on: March 8, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 29, 2026

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae
04:51

A Modified Mirror Test as a Visual Guide for the Self-awareness Trait in Wild Antarctica Penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae

Published on: July 8, 2025

Creating Virtual-hand and Virtual-face Illusions to Investigate Self-representation
06:53

Creating Virtual-hand and Virtual-face Illusions to Investigate Self-representation

Published on: March 1, 2017

Observing the Transformation of Bodily Self-consciousness in the Squeeze-machine Experiment
07:20

Observing the Transformation of Bodily Self-consciousness in the Squeeze-machine Experiment

Published on: March 8, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Genetics
  • Sociology

Background:

  • Self-perception is crucial for individuals with Down syndrome (DS).
  • Understanding the lived experiences of people with DS can inform support systems.
  • Previous research has not extensively captured the self-reported well-being of adults with DS.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the self-perception and life satisfaction of individuals with Down syndrome (DS).
  • To provide insights for new and expectant parents of children with DS.
  • To advocate for the value and inclusion of people with DS in society.

Main Methods:

  • Survey instruments were administered to 284 individuals with DS aged 12 and older.
  • Participants were recruited through mailing lists of six non-profit DS organizations.
  • Qualitative analysis was used to understand participants' encouragement and perspectives.

Main Results:

  • Nearly 99% of participants with DS reported happiness with their lives and love for their families.
  • 97% liked who they are, and 96% liked how they look.
  • 86% felt they could make friends easily, with difficulties often linked to isolating living situations.

Conclusions:

  • The overwhelming majority of people with DS lead happy and fulfilling lives.
  • Individuals with DS encourage parents to embrace their children and healthcare professionals to value them.
  • People with DS share universal hopes and dreams, emphasizing their inherent worth.