Chapter 5 - The Self

Question 1

Self-awareness theory

Answer 1

The idea that when people focus their attention on themselves, they evaluate and compare their behaviour with their internal standards and values

Question 2

Self-verification theory

Answer 2

A theory suggesting that people have a need to seek confirmation of their self-concept, whether the self-concept is positive or negative; in some circumstances, this tendency can conflict with the desire to uphold a favourable view of oneself

Question 3

Introspection

Answer 3

The process whereby people look inward and examine their own thoughts, feelings, and motives

Question 4

Looking-glass self

Answer 4

The idea that we see ourselves through the eyes of other people and incorporate their views into our self-concept

Question 5

Sociometer theory

Answer 5

The theory that self-esteem is a gauge that monitors the extent to which we are accepted or rejected by others

Question 6

Intrinsic motivation

Answer 6

The desire to engage in an activity because we enjoy it or find it interesting, not because of external rewards or pressures

Question 7

Self-perception theory

Answer 7

The theory that when our attitudes and feelings are uncertain or ambiguous, we infer these states by observing our behaviour and the situation in which it occurs

Question 8

Self-schemas

Answer 8

An organized body of knowledge about the self (e.g., attitudes, preferences, traits) that influences what people notice, think, and remember about themselves

Question 9

Task-contingent rewards

Answer 9

Rewards that are given for performing a task, regardless of how well the task is done

Question 10

Upward social comparison

Answer 10

The process whereby we compare ourselves with people who are better than we are on a particular trait or ability

Question 11

Independent view of the self

Answer 11

Defining oneself in terms of one’s own internal thoughts, feelings, and actions, and not in terms of the thoughts, feelings, and actions of other people

Question 12

Interdependent view of the self

Answer 12

Defining oneself in terms of one’s relationships to other people; recognizing that one’s behaviour is often determined by the thoughts, feelings, and actions of others

Question 13

Performance-contingent rewards

Answer 13

Rewards that are based on how well we perform a task

Question 14

Causal theories

Answer 14

Theories about the causes of one’s own feelings and behaviours; typically, we learn such theories from our culture (e.g., “absence makes the heart grow fonder”)

Question 15

Self-enhancement

Answer 15

An unrealistically positive view of oneself

Question 16

Social comparison theory

Answer 16

The idea that we learn about our own abilities and attitudes by comparing ourselves with other people

Question 17

Extrinsic motivation

Answer 17

The desire to engage in an activity because of external rewards or pressures, not because we enjoy the task or find it interesting

Question 18

Overjustification effect

Answer 18

The case whereby people view their behaviour as caused by compelling extrinsic reasons, making them underestimate the extent to which their behaviour was caused by intrinsic reasons

Question 19

Downward social comparison

Answer 19

The process whereby we compare ourselves with people who are worse than we are on a particular trait or ability