It involves being aware of your behavior and the impact it has on your environment.
Those who are low in self-monitoring tend to behave in accordance with their own internal needs and feelings.
For example, some people may monitor themselves more during social situations or during periods of highstress.
Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images
Research suggests that self-monitoring interventions can be effective for targeting and changing behaviors.
Impact of Self-Monitoring
Self-monitoring can affect people in a variety of ways.
In other cases, people may self-monitor because ofsocial anxiety.
Excessive self-monitoring means that people with social anxiety feel even moreself-consciousabout their behaviors in social configs.
It is important to note that whether self-monitoring is considered advantageous or detrimental may depend on the situation.
High-self monitors are good at adapting to the situation and getting along with others.
Low self-monitoring means that people are less likely to change their behavior to fit in.
This can be seen as combative or even antisocial in some contexts.
However, it can also be a sign of high individualism and resistance toconformityin others.
As self-monitoring improves and the target behavior changes, reward yourself for a job well done.
Self-monitoring can have both benefits and drawbacks depending upon the situation and how it is used.
In other instances, it may cause problems if it contributes to feelings of self-consciousness and anxiety.
Snyder M.Self-monitoring of expressive behavior.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
doi:10.2196/jmir.1858
Hofmann SG.Cognitive factors that maintain social anxiety disorder: a comprehensive model and its treatment implications.Cogn Behav Ther.
2007;36(4):193-209. doi:10.1080/16506070701421313
Burgard M, Gallagher KI.Self-monitoring.ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal.
2006;10(1):14-19.