4- Motivated Self-Knowledge and Effects on Information Processing Flashcards
What is development of the self not?
Not objective or random
What is self-assessment?
Desire to learn the truth about the self
What kind of motive is self-assessment?
Accuracy
What does self-assessment help us to do?
Pursue opportunities that fit our skills
What is self-enhancement?
Desire to learn favourable or flattering things about the self
What appeal does self-enhancement have?
Emotional
What are the two main groups of self-enhancement?
Self-enhancement motivation and self-protection
What is self-enhancement motivation?
Focus on seeking positive information
What is self-protection?
We avoid negative views
What are the 2 parts of self-enhancement motivation?
Flattering beliefs and biased feedback seeking/reactions
What are the 2 parts of self-protection?
Self-affirmation and defensiveness
How does self-enhancement happen?
Unconsciously
What are attributions?
Our interpretations for the causes of events
What 3 dimensions can self-serving attributions be?
Internal vs external
Global vs specific
Stable vs unstable
When are people more likely to make internal, global and stable attributions?
For success
When are people more likely to make specific, external and unstable attributions?
For failure
What is self-verification?
The desire to get feedback that confirms what people already believe about the self
What appeal does self-verification have?
Cognitive
What do the 3 motives affect?
Choice of tasks, self-presentation strategies, feedback-seeking, reactions to feedback and memory for feedback
What do self-enhancement/self-protection strategies serve to do?
Maintain self-esteem levels
What is the negative side of self-enhancement/self-protection strategies?
They can undermine learning, self-improvement and relationships
What is self-esteem associated with?
Happiness, wellbeing and resilience
What is lower self-esteem associated with?
A greater risk of depression and anxiety
What is terror management theory?
Self-esteem enables us to live full lives without constant anxiety about our own mortality
What is the sociometer theory?
Self–esteem acts as a gauge for social inclusion so we seek it because it reassures us we are valued/included
