Chapter 5 Understanding Ourself

Question 1

Self-concept

Answer 1

The overall set of beliefs that people have about their personal attributes

Question 2

Self-schema

Answer 2

An organized body of knowledge about the self, attitudes, preference, traits, that influence what people notice, think, and remember about themselves

Question 3

Independent view of the self

Answer 3

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 4

Interdependent view of the self

Answer 4

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 5

Introspection

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Self-awareness theory

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Casual theories

Answer 7

Theories about the causes of one’s own feelings and behaviour; typically, we learn such theories from our culture

Question 8

Self perception theory

Answer 8

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 9

Intrinsic motivation

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Extrinsic Motivation

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Overjustification effect

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Task-contingent Rewards

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Performance-contingent Rewards

Answer 13

Rewards that are based on how well we perform a task

Question 14

Looking glass self

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Social comparison theory

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Self-control

Answer 16

The ability to subdue immediate desires to achieve long-term goals

Question 17

Implementation intentions

Answer 17

People’s specific plans about where, when, and how they will fulfill a goal and avoid temptation.

Question 18

Downward social comparison

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Upward social comparison

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Socialmeter Theory

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Self-enhancement

Answer 21

An unrealistic positive view of oneself

Question 22

Self-verification theory

Answer 22

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