Metaphors as symbolic environment of the self: How self-knowledge is expressed verbally

In current social psychology, the self is conceptualized as a "set of beliefs" (Baumeister, 1998). As there is no direct way to observe the self, a large part of self-knowledge remains tacit. Researchers mostly analyze "traces of the self" represented in language, for example as metaphors. It is argued that language can be conceptualized as symbolic environment individuals are socialized into much like the physical and social environment. In two studies (N 1 =12, N 2 =63), patterns of metaphors of the self were analyzed and related to self-concept aspects and the big five dimensions of personality. Theoretical and methodological implications for self-concept research are discussed.