The three external factors that affect how one views his or her self are 1) family 2) friends 3) society.
Family and friends are your support system. What they say about you and to you will greatly impact how you see yourself. If they are supportive and very affirming, you will grow up confident in your strengths and weaknesses. If they are degrading and very negative, you will grow up insecure and depressed.
Society imposes a standard that one feels that one must follow. If you have a positive and stable foundation from family and friends, whatever society dictates will not be a very big deal to you. It also works in reverse, if you grow up insecure, you will strive your best to meet society's standards regardless at what expense.
Internal influences is your will and mind. When you have a strong will and strong mind, you strive to achieve what you set yourself to achieve regardless of the obstacles that stands in your way. Even if you grow up in a broken family, bad neighborhood, etc but you decided to yourself to overcome those negatives, you can and will do so.
