7. The Self Flashcards
Subjective self awareness
The organism differentiates itself from the environment
E.g. mostly animals
Objective self awareness
The organism‘s capacity to be the object of it‘s own attention
E.g. primates, humans
Symbolic self-awareness
Organism‘s ability to form an abstract concept of self through language
I.e. humans
Material self
Awareness of the physical world
Body, possessions
Spiritual self
Inner witness to events
Thoughts
Feelings
Explain Duality of Self
Self as object that can be observed
- I have property X
- me
Self as agent doing the observing
- I
The Self
Name the two branches
Self concept
Self esteem
What is self esteem?
How we feel about ourselves
What is self-concept?
What we believe to be true to ourselves
I.e. Trails, attitudes, preferences
Define self-concept.
A Schema consisting of an organized collection of self beliefs and self-perceptions
How does self-concept evolve?
Subjective awareness
Objective awareness
Symbolic awareness
Gallup 1977
- two groups of chimps
- one raised in isolation
- one raised in social environment
- collect baseline measure of touching forehead of both groups (they touch their foreheads the same number of times)
- anesthetize chimps and put red dot on forehead
- return to cages and introduce mirror
- count forehead touches
RESULTS:
- social chimps touch foreheads more
- socialization is important
Social comparison theory
We learn about our own abilities and attitudes by comparing ourselves to other people
Example of social comparison theory
If you donate $50 to charity and find out your friend donates $10, you feel generous!
This may not be the case if your friend instead donated $250
When is social comparison theory applied?
- if objective validation is difficult/impossible
- when we experience uncertainty
What are the strategies of social comparison theory?
Upward social comparison
Downward social comparison
With whom do we compare ourselves?
Impulse: anyone who is around
effects of Upward Social Comparison
Access possibilities
Realistic goals
Threatens self-esteem
Effect of Downwards social comparison
enhances self esteem
What is the effect on self esteem of downward social comparison with a stranger?
Positive
What is the effect of upward social comparison with a stranger?
no effect
What is the effect of downward social comparison with a member of one’s in group?
Positive effect on self esteem
What is the effect of upward social comparison with a member of someone’s in-group?
Negative effect on self esteem
What is the effect of downward social comparison with someone very close?
Negative effect on self esteem,
Because you see them as an asset, an extension of yourself
What is the effect of upward social comparison with someone very close?
Positive effect on self esteem
Outline the concept of self-perception theory.
We do not know what we think or feel until we see what we do
- especially with uncertain or ambiguous feelings
Who coined the self-perception theory and when?
Bern 1967
Is the situation sufficient to explain behaviour?
- if yes, our behaviour is due to external facts
- if not, then assume behaviour is due to internal reasons i.e. it reflects on our traits
Explain the phenomenon of over-justification
EXTERNAL REWARD NOT PRESENT
• self-perception of enjoyment
• intrinsic motivation is high
• tendency to engage in these activities
EXTERNAL REWARD NOT PRESENT
• self-perception of duty
• intrinsic motivation reduced
• lower tendency to engage in these activities
Define self-complexity
Range of realistic possible selves that are entertained
— Limited loss from negative event
— Limited gain from positive event
State some functions of self-concept
— Organizes Personal experience
— Prediction and control
— Regulation of behavior, feelings and thoughts
— Assesses competence
(OPRA)
What is the self-reference effect?
Self-relevant Information is processed more efficiently
e.g. words are remembered better if processed under the instructions „does this word describe you?“
— elaborating processing: rich knowledge structure, connection is made easily
— categorical processing: information is entered into the self-concept (well-organized system)
What is self-esteem?
What are the motives of self-esteem?
One‘s evaluation of themselves
MOTIVES:
• self-assessment: seeking accurate self-knowledge
• self-enhancement: seeking positive self-knowledge
• self-verification: seeking self-knowledge consistent with self-concept
How do we maintain our self-esteems?
• Self-serving attribution bias
- Inflation of our own contribution to success (e.g. job promotion)
- Downplay of our own contribution to failure (e.g. divorce, accident)
• False Optimism
- we believe ourselves to be better than average
• False Uniqueness
Correlates of low self-esteem
— high self-ideal discrepancy — poor social skills — loneliness — depression — decreased effort after failure — weaker immune system
Define self-awareness
Extent to which attention is directed inward
Methods of escaping self-awareness
— alcohol abuse
— binge-eating
— masochism
Evolution of Self awareness; name the three steps
Subjective
Objective
Symbolic
Social self
Images we create in the minds of others
Roles, social identities
Where does self-knowledge come from?
Other people
Two factor theory of emotion
Physical arousal
Cognitive context
