Cognitive Perspective (The Self) Flashcards
True or false. People are unconsciously and consciously making decisions all the time and it is NOT possible to be aware of everything in our lives.
If true, why is this?
True
These mechanisms that help us NOT be aware of everything help us (we would go insane otherwise)
Schemas are the “_________ _____________” with which people interpret the objects & social situations in their world
They are also knowledge structures made up of collections of attributes or features that have a “_________ ____________” to each other
It helps us “___________” info “____________”
Mental representations
Family resemblance
Categorize; efficiently
True or false. Emotional and behaviour reactions are NOT influenced by schemas
False
True or false. Schemas help us constru, percieve & interpret our world
True
True or false. We CANNOT consider schemas “basic units” since they aren’t organized and don’t guide what we remember
False
Schemas also involve clear exemplars/prototypes…
What does this mean?
Give an example
This is the MENTAL “image” of which comes to our mind FIRST & MOST easily
Ex) think of the word “bird”
We are much more likely to picture a robin over an ostrich since its more easily available in our mind
Schemas can also help one to “______ _______” of new events by recognizing what they are like in terms of their “__________” to the cognitive structures that already “______”
Give an example
New events
Similarity
Exist
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Ex) picture an engineer, how would you imagine this person
Or
Ex) picturing how people look when they eat out at a restaurant
We may picture either of these depending on what our previous experience/expectations are
True or false. We are more likely to NOT remember things that DONT fit in our schema
False
True or false. We use schemas to fill in missing information
True
True or false. Schemas help us confirm what we are looking to find
True
True or false. Schemas DO NOT help us make sense of new & ambiguous stimuli
False
We do not need to know all information if our existing schema is activated…
What does this mean?
Give an example
If our existing schema(s) is/are ACTIVATED we use this DEFAULT information from MEMORY
Ex) schema for going to movies
If someone told us they went to the movies, they would not need to tell us every detail because we already have an existing schema on how a movie night TYPICALLY goes
(buy ticket ->get popcorn/candy ->find seat- >watch movie etc…)
Who was Willam James?
Described the self as TWO different meanings
The “I” self and the “Me” self
What is the “I” self?
Ontological self
Somewhat mysterious entity that does the OBSERVING & DESCRIBING
Little person/homunculus/soul in your HEAD that experiences your life & makes your decisions
MORE difficult to research
Ex) deep down why you’re friendly or social
= HOW we know THIS ^
What is the “Me” self?
Epistemological self
Sort of OBJECT that can be OBSERVED & DESCRIBED
COLLECTION of statements you could make about yourself
MORE research on this
Ex) friendly/social
= HOW you describe YOURSELF
= “me” includes everything (body, home, family, possessions etc…)
What is the central aspect of the self?
Often called the “________ _______”
Psychological self
Our ABILITIES & PERSONALITIES
May INFLUENCE our behaviour
ORGANIZES memories, impressions & judgements
—————————————————————————
Internal marker
What are the 2 types of self-knowledge?
Give an example for each
- Declarative knowledge (facts impressions, opinions)
Ex) person KNOWS their friendly - Procedural knowledge (actions rather than through words)
Ex) UNCONSCIOUS shy person
What is the declarative self?
What are the 2 sorts?
ALL your self-knowledge/opinions about your OWN personality traits
2 sports:
1. Self-esteem (“self worth”)
- overall OPINION on whether you are GOOD or BAD, WORTHY or UNWORTHY etc…
2. Self-schema
- EVERYTHING you know/think about your traits & abilities
- sometimes accurate/sometimes not
What is self-esteem?
CONVENTIONAL wisdom has long-held that LOW self-esteem is BAD (correlated w/ delinquency, crime, suicide etc…)
Low self-esteem may be a DANGER SIGNAL
= Leary’s sociometer theory
BUT if it becomes too HIGH this can also be BAD
(some researchers argue this can be worse)
It is important to maintain REALISTIC self-esteem
How does self-esteem relate to sociometer theory according to Leary?
If there is a DROP in self-esteem = “danger signal” (ostracism/rejection from group)
Evolutionary we need to FIT in w/ our social groups in order to find a mate & reproduce
What happened in the youtube video “feel good about failure”?
The “self-esteem movement” is a problem
“Me” —> makes kids feel entitled or conceded
Preach that is doesn’t matter if they are learning, but as long as they FEEL GOOD about themselves = all that matters
Ex) everyone gets a trophy winner or loser ‘
- trophy ends up losing its sentimental value even tho kids overall like this
In one study covering SAT scores…
CONDITION 1: kids were told they were SMART —-> WORSE performance
= FIXED MINDSET
CONDITION 2: kids were told they TRIED HARD —> BETTER performance
= GROWTH MINDSET
In another study comparing Americans and Koreans…
AMERICANS:
Think = have high test scores
Reality = have LOWER test scores
KOREANS:
Think = have LOW test scores
Reality = have HIGH test scores
Overall kids need more HONEST feedback to encourage the GROWTH MINDSET and stop this inflated view of self
What is a self-schema?
What did Marcus (1977) identify?
Includes ALL of the ideas about the self
ORGANIZED into a coherent system
————————————————————————————
Identified students who were “schematic for” the traits of dependence & sociability through SELF-REPORT
Examined the ASSOCIATION of these reports to rxn time responses of “me” or “not me”
What is functionality according to schemas?
When responding to a personality questionnaire, individuals pull info from their SELF-SCHEMAS from their memory system
This memory system is deeply INTERCONNECTED w/ self-schemas
What is expertise in a trait (schematic VS aschematic) ?
Schematic:
- experts in SPECIFIC TRAIT
- respond MORE quickly/efficiently to traits relevant to their SCHEMA
Aschematic:
- LACK these structures & organized framework
- might lead to a SLOWER response in reaction to new info
Expertise in a domain “__________” processing speed & accuracy in that domain, but can “________” ones worldview leading to a “_________” perspective
Enhances
Narrows
Restricted
True or false. Schemas that overlap cannot cause challenges
False
A setback/failure in one domain can SPILL over & affect the global self-concept & other domains of life
What is self-complexity?
Memorize using the term “many schemas, many shields”
Is there different degrees of this?
Yes
The DEGREE of which your self-schema is differentiated & compartmentalized
Most individuals possess MULTIPLE shelf-schemas
The DEGREE of which these schemas differentiate/seperated VARIES
What is self-efficacy?
Give an example
Memorize using the term “schemas shape success”
Self-schemas AFFECT what we DO
Our OPINIONS about our capabilities set the LIMITS of what we will attempt/avoid
Can have SERIOUS implications
Ex) the Barbie doll phrase “math class is tough” could perpetuate a belief among young girls that they are less capable in math
What is self-discrepancy?
What are the 3 kinds of self-relevant schema involved?
- Actual self:
- how we CURRENTLY perceive ourselves - Ideal self:
- the BEST versions of ourselves (representing goals & aspirations) - Ought self:
- who we think we SHOULD be (based on morals & societal values)
Self-discrepancy = the interaction between these determine how we FEEL about LIFE
Discrepancies between the “actual self” and the “ideal & ought self” have different consequences..
What are these?
People may pursue goals DIFFERENTLY based on their FOCUS (ideal vs ought)
FAILURE to meet goals tied to these can create EMOTIONAL DISTRESS
What is accurate self-knowledge?
What is RAM?
Self-knowledge can be RIGHT or WRONG
Understanding your interests & capabilities is CRITICAL for making life choices (ex. selecting a degree)
Knowing YOURSELF as well as you know ANOTHER is essential for HEALTHY relationships
ACCURATE self-knowledge is considered HALLMARK of mental health
Process of this is called the Realistic Accuracy Model (RAM):
Target->Relevance->Availability->Detection->Utilization->Judge ^________________________Accuracy______________________________^
True or false. Knowing yourself is much easier than figuring out someone else
False
Knowing yourself MIGHT be MORE difficult
We have better INSIGHT into our PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
BUT this is different when is comes to OVERT behaviour
What is the Implicit Association Test (IAT)?
Measures RXN times to assess the strength of ASSOCIATIONS b/w concepts
When two closely associated categories share the SAME response button = RXN times are FASTER
When conflicting categories share the SAME response button = RXN times are SLOWER
This test helps distinguish b/w the RATIONAL & EXPERIENTIAL of thought
What happened in the Barbie youtube video?
What is the counterpoint video?
In relation to SELF-EFFICACY
Barbie saying “math class is tough” is a problematic example of how messages can shape self-efficacy beliefs, particularly in young girls
Counterpoint video highlights alternative perspectives or responses to the Barbie example
What is the procedural self?
The UNIQUE aspects of what you do
Consists of ways of DOING things/procedures
You are NOT conscious of the knowledge itself
Generally CANNOT explain it well to anyone else
What is the implicit self?
How is this measured?
Implicit aspects of the self-concept that work UNCONCIOUSLY & POWERFULLY
IAT - Greenwald and colleagues
What are the dual-process models AKA the two ways of thinking?
What did Seymour Epstein develop?
Dual-process models CONTRAST the roles of CONSCIOUS & UNCONSCIOUS thought
Seymour Epstein developed Cognitive Experiential Self-theory (CEST):
Seeks to explain…
—> UNCONSCIOUS processing
—> IRRATIONAL & EMOTION
= sectors of the mind
What are some important aspects of the rational system in Epstein’s dual-process model?
ANALYTIC
LOGICAL
EFFORTFUL & DELIBERATE
Requires JUSTIFICATION (via logic & evidence)
Thinks in terms of ABSTRACT symbols, words & #’s
Affects behaviour through CONSCIOUS appraisal
Operates in SLOWER speed
Can change RAPIDLY (speed of logical thought)
Produces KNOWLEDGE
Resembles Freuds “secondary process thinking”
What are some important aspects of the experiential system in Epstein’s dual-process model?
HOLISTIC
AFFECTIVE (driven by what feels good)
IMMEDIATE & EFFORTLESS
AUTOMATIC
DRIVES behaviour through “vibes” PAST experience
Thinks in VIVID images, metaphors & stories
Operates at HIGH speed
SLOW to CHANGE (needs repetitive measures)
SELF-EVIDENTLY valid (“experiencing is believing”)
Produces WISDOM
