CHAPTER 3: The Social Self

Question 1

Compare Westerners and Asians in terms of social network views

Answer 1

Westerners hold a more independant lifestyle, while Asian cultures are are more collectivistic and hold an interdependant view of of the self as a part of a larger social network

Question 2

Explain why smiling can make us happier

Answer 2

the notion that smiling makes us happier is known as the self-perception theory -> people gain self-insight by observing their own behavior

Question 3

private vs. public self-consciousness

Answer 3

Public self-consciousness: the awareness of the self as as a social and public object
Private self-consciousness: tendency for individuals to focus on their inner thoughts and feelings

Question 4

What is self-handicapping and why do people do it?

Answer 4

self-handicapping is people’s tendency to self-sabotage one’s own performance to provide an excuse for future failures-> this is done to protect our self-esteems

Question 5

the idea that people serve as a mirror in which we see ourselves is known as what?

Answer 5

looking-glass self