Self-consciousness refers to a person's tendency to focus attention on his or her own thoughts and feelings that results in awareness, control, intention, and self-reflection. Because personal actions and choices are based on what one sees, feels, and believes, selfconsciousness is essential to understanding human action and moral development.

The state of self-consciousness, therefore, has fundamental personal, social, and cultural consequences. Its related aspects include self-awareness and selfknowledge—terms more frequently applied in management theories. Integral to understanding self-consciousness are definitions of self and self-concept.