Which term describes anxiety arising from a mismatch between self-concept and experiences?

• A. Congruence
• B. Personal Power
• C. Incongruence
• D. Internal Source of Evaluation

Answer: (C)

When there’s a mismatch between how a person sees themselves (self-concept) and what they actually experience, it creates anxiety. This mismatch is called incongruence. If experiences align with the self-concept, a person feels more congruent or in harmony; if they don’t, the resulting tension and distress come from incongruence between inner beliefs and outer reality. For example, someone who views themselves as fundamentally kind may feel anxious when they act in ways that contradict that belief due to harsh feedback or failures, signaling a gap between who they think they are and what they’re experiencing. Incongruence is a central idea in humanistic psychology, with unconditional positive regard and acceptance helping the self-concept adjust to reality so the person feels less anxiety. The other terms don’t describe this specific mismatch between self-concept and experience.