The Four Elements of Self-Image

In 1960, a plastic surgeon named Maxwell Maltz wrote a book titled “Psychocybernetics.” In this seminal work, Dr. Maltz explained his puzzlement over why women who had received plastic surgery from him often still felt that “nothing had changed; I’m still ugly,” even though, by every objective standard, their looks had improved.

In studying this phenomenon, Dr. Maltz gradually came to understand that what motivated many of his patients was not so much their physical appearance as it was their self-image. Based on his discussions with patients, other plastic surgeons, and his own analysis, he concluded that his patients came to him with negative self-images, and it was the self-perception of ugliness that led his patients to continue with their negative attitudes.

Borrowing from communication theory, Dr. Maltz posited that there were four elements of self-image:

• Input (self-image)
• Throughput (analysis of self-image)
• Output (words/deeds based on self-image)
• Feedback (external communications which tended to reinforce Input/self-image)

These four elements could lead to reinforcement of negative or positive self-image. In turn, self-image led to negative or positive behavior which included negative or positive jobs, friendships (or lack thereof), and family relationships.

Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins, Brian Tracy, Jim Rome, and others had adopted Dr. Maltz’s principles and included them…