3- Week 3 The Social Self

Question 1

Outline the 5 step process of how someone comes to have a self-concept

Answer 1

Introspection
Perceptions of our own behaviour
Influences of other people (the ‘self’ is relative to who is most immediate to the person at the time)
Autobiographical memories (certain memories of importance shape who we think we are)

Question 2

Why do we have a sense of self esteem?

Answer 2

We need to see ourselves in a positive light.

It is a primitive drive to seek connection and approval of others.

Question 3

Describe gender and cultural differences in self-esteem

Answer 3

Gender-
Men have higher self esteem than women

Cultural-
Group pride present in some groups (African American)
Minorities have lower self-esteem generally
Cultural differences in self-esteem dependent on whether they are an individualistic or collectivist society.

Question 4

How do situational and personal factors influence self-awareness?

Answer 4

Situational factors-
They force us to notice self-discrepancies and can produce temporary reduction in self esteem.
Can respond with either:
Resilient personal nature - adjust behaviour to meet standards or
Non-resilient personal nature - withdraw from self-focusing situation (drinking/distraction)

Question 5

How do individuals engage in self-enhancement (bettering our position)?

Answer 5

Implicit egotism - a non-conscious form of self enhancement, where we are drawn to the letters of our own names and numbers of our own birthdates more.

Self-serving beliefs - Distorting reasons when we receive bad results, blaming others/things.

Self-handicapping - self-sabotage

Basking in reflected glory - Associating with others who are successful

Downward social comparisons - ‘well I’m doing better than them at least!’

Question 6

Name the three motives that drive self-presentation

Answer 6

Strategic self-presentation -
Efforts to shape other impressions of us in specific ways

Self verification -
The desire to have others perceive us as we truly perceive ourselves, seeking verification of our self-concept in others.

Self-Monitoring -
We use self-monitoring to select strategic self-presentation or self-verification according to what situation we are currently in.