Final answer:
The term that describes how historical events influence self-perception is known as the social construction of reality. This concept is integral to understanding how individual and societal identities are shaped by history and the influences that bias, background, and culture have on our interpretations of historical events.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term which describes the idea that historical events shape the way people view themselves is the social construction of reality. This concept highlights how historical causes are seen through the lens of individual experiences, circumstances, and value systems, affecting both personal identity and societal views. It is important to understand that historians endeavor to minimize bias, yet our interpretations of history are inevitably influenced by our backgrounds and beliefs. This can sometimes have a positive effect by allowing us to look at the past in new ways, bringing in alternative narratives to those traditionally focused on elites, as seen in the revisionist history movements of the 1960s and 1970s.
Throughout the twentieth century, historical perspectives have continued to evolve, with increased skepticism towards the old narratives of inevitable progress and a budding interest in a more multifaceted approach to historical events, including the irrational aspects of human behavior, class struggle, gender history, and postcolonialism.