Chapter 5 - The Self

Question 1

Self-construals

Answer 1

A process that is motivated by how we see ourselves, how we want to be and want to be seen.
An individuals knowledge about it self is shaped though active construal process that plays out in interaction with the social environment.

Question 2

Doing

Answer 2

Behaving an interpretating the social world.
This is the agentic aspect of the self.
The I

Question 3

Being

Answer 3

Beliefs, feelings about yourself. How you would describe yourself and self esteem.
Descriptive or object aspect of the self.
The ME

Question 4

Introspection

Answer 4

The process of which we observe and examine our internal states (mental and emotional) for behaving a certain way.

Reflecting an analysing your self to explain why you behave a certain way.

But often difficult to interpret

Question 5

Self perception theory

Answer 5

Theory assumes that when inner states are difficult to interpret, people can conlucde these states by observing their own behaviour, just like outside behavior

Question 6

Extrinsical motivation

Answer 6

We are motivation because of the outcome.
We obtain rewards or try to avoid punishment.
(Praise, esteem, money)

Question 7

Intrinsical motivation

Answer 7

We are motivated for the sake of the activity.
Hobbies etc. (Interest, challenge, enjoyment)

Question 8

The danger of the unjustification effect (in the self perception theory)

Answer 8

When an activity becomes associated with an external reward, our intrinsic motivation may diminish.

(Getting a really high great sometimes does not enhance your motivation, you actually work less after because the reward has undermined your motivation)

Question 9

Who we are / the self depends on

Answer 9

• interactions with others
• so the social environment you are embedded in

Question 10

How do we know ourselves

Answer 10

• though observations (introspection and self reflection
• through help of others

Question 11

Attachment processes (a way we learn about ourselves through social sources)

Answer 11

From an early each we learn about ourselves, our livability and worth, as we experience how our mothers care for us and respond to our needs.

If you did not get much care, your self esteem will be low. you view yourself as unlovable and worthless.

Question 12

reflected appraisal (a way we learn about ourselves through social sources)

Answer 12

how others react to us serve as a mirror of how we see ourselves.
How someone reacts to us, says something about how they perceive and judge us, and we will see ourselves this way.
If someone perceives me as smart, I will have that positive attitude and act accordingly.

Question 13

social comparison (a way we learn about ourselves through social sources)

Answer 13

We compare ourselve with others to make inferences about our own abilities and opinions.
If we are unsure about our own, we compare to similar others.

Question 14

social identity (a way we learn about ourselves through social sources)

Answer 14

social identity is an extention of our regional self. We identify with a social group, which is a part of us.
If our social group is made fun off, we ourselves feel made fun off.

Question 15

autobiographical memories
(a mechanism behind the our sense of who we our)

Answer 15

These memories our recollections of SEQUENCES of events in the past. They shape who we are because they connect past with present, giving us CONTINUITY. Some memories ar more vivid, and we have flash bulb memories (very accurate knowing of circumstances when something highly emotional happened.

Question 16

self as a narrative
(a mechanism behind the our sense of who we our)

Answer 16

we have self narative to make meaning out of events we experience. these narratives include settings, scenes, characters, plots and dominant themes.
Self narratives differ across culture. Asian are less self focused.

Question 17

2 mechanisms behind our sense of self

Answer 17

• autobiographical memories
• self as narrative

Question 18

self concept

Answer 18

how we describe ourselves.
Cognitive representation of our self knowledge consisting of all beliefs. Our characteristics, social role, fears, goals.
It gives meaning to experiences and relationships.

Question 19

self schemas

Answer 19

mental frameworks or beliefs about ourselves that help us organize and interpret information about who we are, like seeing ourselves as smart, shy, or athletic.

Question 20

self-reference effect

Answer 20

We tend to process and remember self-related info better than other info.

Question 21

working self concept

Answer 21

Not all our self knowlegde is active all the time. We have WORKING SELF CONCEPT which is subset of relevant info about ourselves that is active and guides our behavior in a certain situation.

Once it is activated, the working self concept determines your behavior, rather than the full self concept.

Question 22

desired selves

Answer 22

contains
- potential POSSIBLE SELF
- wishes/aspirations of IDEAL SELF
- obligation we hold for ourself OUGHT SELF

Question 23

self esteem

Answer 23

overall evaluation of ourselves along a positive/negative dimension

Question 24

implicit self knowlegde

Answer 24

outside of awareness. Uncontrollable and automatic

Question 25

Explicit self knowlegde

Answer 25

come about trough reflections or deliberate thought process. Controllable

Question 26

Trait self esteem

Answer 26

How we feel about ourselves most of the time. Is stable throughout life. High or low self esteem

Question 27

State self esteem

Answer 27

Variable self-evalutation than change in repsonse to temporary experiences.
Succes can make us have high self esteem while failure can make us feel low
SELF ESTEEM IS DEPENDENT OF THE STATE WE OUR IN

Question 28

contingencies of self-worth

Answer 28

our self esteem depends on internal and external factors.

You are buffered to setbacks and have a more genuine self esteem if you depend less on external, and more on internal.

Question 29

Independent self

Answer 29

defines yourself via internal attributes

Question 30

Interdependent self

Answer 30

define yourself via connection to others and your relationship with them

Question 31

Self assesment motive
(Motivation behind getting to know ourselves)

Answer 31

We strive to get an objective and accurate understanding of ourselves.
However, we are more eager to learn about our strengths, than our weaknesses.

Question 32

self-enhancement motive

Answer 32

The desire to enhance the positivity of our self-conceptions or protect the self from negative information.
Its because we a need for high self esteem

(This is why we are more eager to learn about strength than weaknesses.

Question 33

Self enhancing illusions

Answer 33

We are motivated to learn about ourselves, to self-enhance. This enhancement often happens through the beliefs we adopt, but in those beliefs there are biases.

• superiority bias
• unrealistic optimism
• in group-favouritism

Question 34

Superiority bias

Answer 34

We tend to have an unrealistic positive view of ourselves.
e.g. we tend to see ourselves as better than others.

Question 35

Unrealistic optimism

Answer 35

People tend to have overly positive expectations of the future

Question 36

In group favouritism

Answer 36

People tend to believe their own group is superior to other groupa

Question 37

Implicit egotism/homophily

Answer 37

People have a unconscious tendency to be more attracted to things that related to them selves.

Question 38

self presentation

Answer 38

Set of strategies we adopt to shape what others think of us.

Self enhancement motives translate in to behavior such as self presentation

Question 39

Self-handicapping

Answer 39

People try to create obstacles for themselves ahead of time, so that if we fail we can blame it on an external factor.
But if we succeed, there is an augmenting principle, because then our ability is high.
Attribution AFTER success is a characteristics in people with a high self esteem

Question 40

self-verification

Answer 40

People’s motive to affirm self-beliefs, coming from a desire for stable and coherent self-views.
Need our beliefs to be confirmed.

Question 41

Sociometer theory (theory about why we self enhance)

Answer 41

Self esteem functions as a signal of the degree we feel accepted or not in our society. When we feel unaccepted, our self esteem drops and we need to self enhance to restore our social standing.

Question 42

Terror management theory (theory about why we self enhance)

Answer 42

We self-enhance because a positive self helps us to overcome our deepest existential fears (angst over overleven)

Question 43

Volatility of unjustifiably inflated high self-esteem

Answer 43

A person with high self esteem without a good reason can be problematic as they are easily challenged and threatened causing them to act problematic such as unsafe practices, putting others down.

Question 44

self awereness theory

Answer 44

self awareness, turning attention to ourselves, motivates us to asses how well we are doing / living up to social norms

Question 45

self regulation theory

Answer 45

Self awereness makes us more inclined to self regulate (our behavior) to achieve desires thought, feelings and goals

Question 46

Operation of tote loop

Answer 46

We self regulate by monitoring if we live up to standards, if not, we take action to bring us closer to standard. If the discrepancy (difference) to the standard is gone, we exit the tote loop. If not we are constantly in a loop in trying to change our behavior to meet standards.

Question 47

Delay of gratification (self-regulation consequence)

E.g. saving.

Answer 47

Ability to resist the temptation of an immediate reward and wait for a later larger reward.

Question 48

Ineffective self regulation, if we self regulate to much, then ..

Answer 48

• We choke under pressure
• Want to escape ourself
• Focus on negative emotions

Question 49

self determination theory

Answer 49

Self regulation is mroe efficient if the motivation comes from the person themselves.
When self regulation is motivated by others, it is effortful and can lead to psychological conflict.

We are more motivated to learn when we can choose the subject of our own interest ourselves.

Question 50

Identity negotiation

Answer 50

Process in whcih we establish who we are trough mutual give-and-take interaction with others.
This allows shifts in the self
We change behaviour, others respond to this, then we have a new beliefs about ourselves.