Chapter 6 Flashcards
Cognitive Dissonance Theory
Idea that ppl have distaste for perceiving inconsistencies in their beliefs, attitudes and behaviour that they will bias their own attitudes and beliefs to try to deny inconsistencies.
Three ways to reduce dissonance:
- change one of the cognitions
- add a third cognition that makes other two seem less inconsistent w ea other
- trivialize the cognitions that are inconsistent
Free choice paradigm (dissonance paradigm)
Lab situation where ppl make a choice between two alternatives and after-attraction to alternatives is assessed.
Induced compliance paradigm
Lab situation where participants are induced to engage in behaviour that runs against their beliefs.
Induced hypocrisy paradigm
Lab situation where participants asked to advocate an opinion they believe in, but then reminded about a time their actions ran counter to that opinion, thereby arousing dissonance.
Effort Justification
Phenomenon where ppl reduce dissonance by convincing themselves that what they suffered for was quite valuable.
Minimal deterrence
Minimal level of external justification necessary to deter unwanted behaviour
Self-concept clarity
Clearly defined, internally consistent, and temporarily stable self-concept.
Self-verification
Seeking out others and social situations that support the way one views oneself in order to sustain a consistent and clear self-concept.
Self complexity
Extent to which an individual’s self-concept consists of many different aspects
Self-narrative
Coherent life story that connects one’s past, present, and possible future.
Possible selves
Images of what the self might become in the future.
Self-handicapping
Placing obstacles in the way of one’s own success to protect self-esteem from a possible future failure.
Projection
Assigning to others traits that ppl fear they possess themselves.
Theory of Symbolic self-completion
Idea that when ppl perceive that a self-defining aspect is threatened, they feel incomplete, and then try to compensate by acquiring and displaying symbols that support their desired self-definition.
Fluid compensation
After a blow to self-esteem in one domain, ppl shore up sense of self-worth by bolstering how they think of themselves in an unrelated domain.
Self-affirmation theory
Idea that ppl respond less defensively to threats to one aspect of themselves if they think about another valued aspect of themselves.
Self-evaluation maintenance model
Idea that ppl adjust their perceived similarity to successful others to minimize threatening comparisons and maximize self-esteem-supporting identifications.
Sociometer model
Idea that basic function of self-esteem is to indicate to the individual how much they are accepted by other ppl.
Self-determination theory
Idea that ppl function best when they feel their best when they feel their actions stem from their own desires rather than from external factors.
Locus of control
The extent to which a person believes that either internal or external factors determine life outcomes.
Relatedness:
Autonomy:
competence:
- being meaningfully connected w others
- feeling sense of authentic choice in what one does
- feeling effective in what one does
