Chapter 5 self-esteem Flashcards
Self-Estee,
Why do we have a need for self-esteem?
-Self-esteem: Affective component of self, consisting of a person’s positive and negative self-evaluations
~it is an indicator for what what your need for belonging is being met
~it is like a process
~terror_ is theory that humans cop with the fear of their own death by constructing world views that help reserve their self esteem, e.g. religion and the belief of an after-life
-Leary & Baumeister (2000): People are inherently social animals.
~Need for self-esteem is driven by primitive need to connect with others and gain their approval.
-Greenberg, Solomon, & Pyszczynksi (1997): Terror Management Theory
Self-Estee,
Need of Self-Esteem
- Satisfying this need is critical to our entire outlook on life.
- Those with a positive self-image tend to be happy, healthy, productive, and successful.
- Those with a negative self-image tend to be more depressed, pessimistic about the future, and prone to failure.
- But does high self-esteem ensure desirable life outcomes? NO
Self-Estee,
Gender and Race Differences
-Like individuals, social and cultural groups differ in their self-esteem.
-Gender differences?
~Among adolescents and young adults, males outscore females on various general measures of self-esteem.
~But this difference is very small, particularly among older adults.
-Racial differences?
~Blacks have tended to score higher
Self-Estee,
Self-Discrepancy Theory
-Self-esteem is defined by the match — or mismatch — between how we see ourselves and how we want to see ourselves.
-One’s self-esteem and emotional well-being can be predicted by examining the discrepancy between one’s “actual self”{how you see yourself presently} and one’s “self-guides.”{1) ought self_we typically feel bad about yourself, falling short; 2) ideal self_it’s kind of like the golden standard}
-Self-esteem depends on a number of factors:
~Amount of discrepancy between actual self and self-guide.
~The importance of the discrepancy to the self.
~The extent to which one focuses on one’s self-discrepancies.
-What makes us more or less focused on our personal shortcomings?
Self-Estee,
Self-Awareness Theory
-We are not usually self-focused; however, certain situations may cause us to become objects of our own attention
-When we become more self-aware, we naturally begin to compare behavior with some standard. This comparison often results in a negative discrepancy and a temporary reduction in self-esteem
~example of becoming aware of oneself -» like looking at your grades
~can cause anxiety, which may cause some issues
Self-Estee,
Coping with Discomfort
1) “Shape up” by behaving in ways that reduce self-discrepancies
~like me wanting to lose weight and so i started to eat right and exercise
2) “Ship out” by withdrawing from self-awareness
~when people drink alcohol to be less self-aware
Self-Estee,
Mechanisms of Self-Enhancement
- How does the average person cope with his or her faults, inadequacies, and uncertain future?
- We often exhibit implicit egotism, a tendency to hold ourselves in high regard
- What methods do we use to rationalize or otherwise enhance our self-esteem?
