Concept Of Self Flashcards
Self-concept
Definition: Self-concept refers to the individual’s overall perception and understanding of themselves, encompassing their attributes, roles, and values.
Explanation: Imagine your self-concept as a multifaceted mosaic. Each tile represents a belief about yourself (e.g., “I am kind,” “I am a student”). These beliefs, formed through experiences and social interactions, shape your self-perception and influence your behavior.
Self-regulation
Definition: Self-regulation refers to the process of guiding one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to achieve desired goals and maintain well-being.
Explanation: Imagine a driver navigating a winding road. Self-regulation is like the driver’s conscious control of the steering wheel and speed, adjusting to changing conditions (emotions, distractions) to reach their destination (goals). It involves both conscious effort (C-system) and automatized habits (X-system).
Self-evaluation
Definition: Self-evaluation is the process of assessing one’s own abilities, traits, and behaviors, often in comparison to others or internalized standards, influencing self-esteem and future actions.
Explanation: Imagine a basketball player reviewing game footage. They’re not just watching; they’re judging their performance against their own goals and the actions of others, shaping their self-perception and future practice strategies. This self-assessment is self-evaluation.
Loss of self
Definition: Loss of self refers to the diminished sense of individual identity, agency, and self-awareness, often characterized by feelings of depersonalization and detachment from one’s own experiences.
Explanation: Imagine a crowded concert; the individual is subsumed by the collective energy, losing their sense of unique self. This can also occur in extreme situations like trauma or intense group experiences, blurring the boundaries between self and others.
Relational self
Definition: The relational self is the aspect of self-concept derived from our relationships with others, shaping our understanding of who we are through social interactions and feedback.
Explanation: Imagine your self-concept as a mosaic; each tile represents a relationship. The relational self is the pattern formed by these tiles, reflecting how others see and interact with you, influencing your self-perception and behavior. It’s dynamic, changing as relationships evolve.
Self-schemas
Definition: Self-schemas are cognitive structures representing an individual’s beliefs and knowledge about the self, encompassing various aspects of personality, roles, and experiences.
Explanation: Imagine your self-schema as a detailed mental file containing information about yourself. This file influences how you process information about yourself and others, shaping your self-perception and behavior. For example, if your self-schema includes ‘outgoing’, you’ll likely interpret ambiguous social situations as opportunities for interaction.
Self-esteem
Definition: Self-esteem is the subjective overall evaluation of oneself, encompassing both positive and negative self-perceptions.
Explanation: Imagine a scale measuring your overall self-worth. High self-esteem means you generally view yourself favorably, while low self-esteem reflects a negative self-image. This evaluation influences your behavior and emotional responses.
Explicit and implicit self-esteem
Definition: Explicit self-esteem refers to consciously held beliefs and evaluations of oneself, while implicit self-esteem reflects unconscious, automatic evaluations.
Explanation: Imagine two scales: one you consciously use to rate your self-worth (explicit), the other unconsciously influencing your behavior (implicit). Discrepancies can reveal deeper self-perceptions; high explicit but low implicit self-esteem might indicate insecurity masked by outward confidence.
Self-awareness
Definition: Self-awareness is the capacity to consciously reflect on one’s own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, understanding oneself as an individual separate from the environment and others.
Explanation: Imagine a mirror reflecting your actions. Self-awareness is like that mirror, allowing you to observe your internal states and how they influence your behavior. It’s crucial for self-regulation and understanding your impact on others. The “Rouge Test” demonstrates this by assessing whether infants recognize their reflection as themselves.
The Rouge Test, 1972
Definition: The Rouge Test, developed in 1972, is a simple self-recognition test where a mark is placed on a subject’s face, and their reaction to seeing it in a mirror is observed, indicating self-awareness.
Explanation: If a child touches the mark on their face, it suggests they recognize the reflection as themselves, demonstrating self-awareness. This contrasts with younger children who may treat the reflection as another individual. It’s a key measure in understanding the development of self-concept.
Emergence of self-recognition
Definition: Emergence of self-recognition is the developmental milestone where an individual begins to understand that they are a separate entity from their environment and other individuals, recognizing themselves as a distinct object of perception.
Explanation: Imagine a child looking in a mirror. Initially, they might just see another child. But with self-recognition, they understand that the reflection is them. This understanding is crucial for developing a sense of self and is often assessed using the ‘rouge test’, where a mark is placed on their face and their reaction is observed.
Emergence of self-conscious emotions
Definition: The emergence of self-conscious emotions refers to the developmental period when children begin to experience emotions that require self-awareness and understanding of others’ perspectives, such as pride, shame, guilt, and embarrassment.
Explanation: Imagine a child who initially cries at a fall, but later, after developing self-awareness, feels shame at their clumsiness in front of others. This shift marks the emergence of self-conscious emotions, which are intrinsically linked to the development of self-recognition and understanding of social norms.
Emergence of the distiction between private and public self
Definition: The emergence of the distinction between private and public self refers to the developmental stage where children begin to understand that their inner thoughts, feelings, and experiences (private self) are distinct from how they present themselves to others (public self).
Explanation: Imagine a child initially believing their emotions are universally visible. As they mature, they learn to mask sadness or excitement, understanding their internal state is separate from their outward behavior, representing the emergence of a distinct private and public self.
Emergence of more complex self-description
Definition: Emergence of more complex self-description refers to the developmental shift from simple self-recognition to a nuanced understanding of one’s multifaceted self, encompassing various roles, traits, and values.
Explanation: Imagine a child initially identifying as simply “me.” Later, they develop a more complex self-description, incorporating aspects like “good at soccer,” “kind to animals,” and “sometimes shy.” This reflects a richer understanding of their self in relation to different contexts and social roles. This is closely tied to the development of self-schemas and the relational self.
Adolescence
Definition: Adolescence is a transitional developmental period bridging childhood and adulthood, characterized by significant biological, psychological, and social changes.
Explanation: Think of adolescence as a bridge between two houses. The first house is childhood, with its familiar routines and structures. The second is adulthood, with its independence and responsibilities. Adolescence is the journey across, involving construction (physical changes), navigation (identity formation), and settling in (social roles).
Self-perception
Definition: Self-perception is the process by which individuals come to understand themselves through observing their own behavior and internal states in relation to their environment and social context.
Explanation: Imagine you’re unsure if you like jogging. After consistently enjoying your runs, you infer you like jogging based on your repeated behavior. This is self-perception; we deduce our attitudes and feelings from our actions and the circumstances surrounding them.
Neural bases of self-views
Definition: Neural bases of self-views refers to the network of brain regions and their interactions that underlie our self-concept, self-esteem, and other aspects of self-knowledge.
Explanation: Our sense of self isn’t just a mental construct; it’s grounded in brain activity. Areas like the medial prefrontal cortex are crucial for self-referential processing, while other regions contribute to emotional aspects of self-esteem. Think of it like a complex orchestra where different brain areas play unique parts to create the symphony of ‘self’.
Leiden Self-Concept Study
Definition: The Leiden Self-Concept Study is a research project that investigates the structure and dynamics of the self-concept, focusing on the interplay between domain-specific self-evaluations and overall self-esteem.
Explanation: Imagine your self-concept as a multifaceted jewel, with each facet representing a different life domain (e.g., academics, relationships). The Leiden study examines how the brilliance (valence) of each facet contributes to the overall sparkle (self-esteem). It explores how positive or negative self-views in specific areas influence global self-worth.
Domain and Valance
Definition: Domain and valence represent the two dimensions along which we evaluate our self-concept, encompassing the specific areas of our lives (domain) and the positivity or negativity of our feelings about those areas (valence).
Explanation: Imagine a graph: the x-axis represents different life domains (e.g., academics, relationships), and the y-axis represents the valence (positive or negative). Each point on the graph reflects your self-evaluation in a specific domain, indicating whether you feel positively or negatively about your performance or attributes in that area. This helps us understand the multifaceted nature of self-esteem.
Self and culture
Definition: Self and culture represents the dynamic interplay between an individual’s self-concept and the cultural values, beliefs, and practices that shape their sense of self.
Explanation: Imagine a chameleon; its color adapts to its environment. Similarly, our self-concept is molded by our cultural context, influencing how we perceive ourselves and interact with others. Individualistic cultures emphasize independence, while collectivistic cultures prioritize interdependence, shaping self-perception accordingly.
Self-regulation
Definition: Self-regulation refers to the ability to monitor and control one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in pursuit of personal goals.
Explanation: Imagine a tightrope walker: maintaining balance requires constant adjustments. Similarly, self-regulation involves continuously monitoring our internal state and making adjustments to stay on track towards our goals. It’s a dynamic process, not a static trait.
Independent and interdependent self
Definition: Independent and interdependent self represent distinct self-construals reflecting the prioritization of personal goals and attributes versus relational harmony and group goals, respectively.
Explanation: Imagine two individuals: one defines themselves by their unique achievements (independent self), the other by their roles within family and community (interdependent self). These contrasting orientations influence how they perceive themselves and interact with others, highlighting the cultural variability in self-concept.
BAS and BIS (motivational systems)
Definition: The Behavioral Activation System (BAS) and the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) are two neuropsychological systems that motivate approach and avoidance behaviors, respectively, influencing our responses to rewards and punishments.
Explanation: Imagine a seesaw: BAS is the excitement of pursuing rewards (the upward swing), while BIS is the caution of avoiding punishments (the downward swing). A balanced system allows for flexible responses to situations, while an imbalance can lead to impulsivity or anxiety.
self-guides
Definition: Self-guides are internalized standards used to evaluate one’s own behavior, emotions, and thoughts, influencing self-regulation and motivation.
Explanation: Imagine a GPS guiding your actions. Self-guides are similar; they provide directions based on your values and goals. These internalized standards help you assess your progress and adjust accordingly, shaping your behavior to align with your ideal self.
Self-efficacy
Definition: Self-efficacy refers to an individual’s belief in their capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments.
Explanation: Imagine learning to ride a bike. High self-efficacy means you believe you can master it with practice; low self-efficacy means you doubt your ability. It influences our choices and persistence in challenging tasks.
Self-focus trigger regulation
Definition: Self-focus trigger regulation refers to the processes by which individuals manage the onset and intensity of self-focused attention, adapting their awareness of self to situational demands and goals.
Explanation: Imagine a spotlight illuminating your actions. Self-focus trigger regulation is like controlling that spotlight’s brightness and direction. Sometimes you need intense self-reflection (bright light), other times you need to be less self-aware (dim light). This control helps in navigating social situations effectively.
Cybernetic theory of self-attention and self-regulation
Definition: The cybernetic theory of self-attention and self-regulation views self-regulation as a feedback loop where discrepancies between a desired state and the current state trigger attention and adjustment processes.
Explanation: Imagine a thermostat: it compares the room’s temperature to the setpoint. If there’s a difference, it activates heating or cooling. Similarly, we compare our current state to our goals. Discrepancies trigger self-attention, leading to actions that reduce the gap.
Self-control dilemmas (long- short-term benefits)
Definition: Self-control dilemmas arise when individuals face choices between actions offering immediate gratification (short-term benefits) versus actions yielding greater long-term rewards but requiring delayed gratification.
Explanation: Imagine choosing between a small, immediate reward (e.g., eating a piece of cake) and a larger, delayed reward (e.g., fitting into your favorite jeans). The dilemma highlights the conflict between our impulsive desires and our long-term goals, showcasing the challenge of self-regulation.
Upward and downward social comparisons
Definition: Upward and downward social comparisons are processes where individuals evaluate their own abilities and opinions by comparing themselves to others who are either superior (upward) or inferior (downward).
Explanation: Imagine comparing your exam score to a top student (upward) which might lower self-esteem, or to a struggling classmate (downward) which might boost it. These comparisons shape self-perception and motivation, influencing our self-evaluation and future efforts. They are closely related to self-esteem and self-evaluation.
Self-evaluation (positive illusions)
Definition: Self-evaluation (positive illusions) refers to the tendency to hold overly favorable views of oneself, including inflated assessments of one’s abilities and characteristics.
Explanation: We often see ourselves as better than average, a phenomenon called illusory superiority. This bias, while potentially maladaptive, can boost self-esteem and motivation. Think of it like a personal ‘rose-tinted glasses’ effect on self-perception.
Why social comparisons matter
Definition: Social comparisons matter because they serve as a crucial benchmark for self-evaluation, influencing our self-esteem, motivation, and future behaviors by providing a context for understanding our own abilities and characteristics relative to others.
Explanation: Imagine evaluating your running speed. Without knowing others’ times, your speed is meaningless. Social comparison provides that context, allowing you to see yourself as faster or slower than others, impacting your self-perception and motivation to improve. This process is fundamental to self-understanding.
Self-evaluation maintenance (SEM) model
Definition: The self-evaluation maintenance (SEM) model proposes that we manage our self-esteem by strategically comparing ourselves to others, balancing the need to feel good about ourselves with the desire for accurate self-evaluation.
Explanation: Imagine you’re a skilled musician. If a friend plays a similar piece terribly, your self-esteem rises. But if a close friend plays it masterfully, you might feel threatened, leading to self-evaluation adjustments. This model highlights the interplay between self-esteem and social comparison.
Self-regard
Definition: Self-regard refers to the overall positive or negative evaluation an individual holds of themselves, encompassing self-esteem, self-worth, and overall feelings of self-acceptance.
Explanation: Imagine a scale measuring your overall opinion of yourself. High self-regard means you generally like and value yourself, while low self-regard suggests a negative self-image. This is influenced by factors like self-esteem and self-efficacy, and impacts how we interact with others and navigate the world.
Relevance, closeness and performance in SEM
Definition: In the Self-Evaluation Maintenance (SEM) model, relevance, closeness, and performance describe the factors influencing self-evaluation in relation to others’ achievements.
Explanation: Imagine your close friend excels in a relevant field (e.g., your shared passion for painting). SEM suggests your self-evaluation will depend on the relevance of their success to your self-concept, your closeness to them, and their performance. High relevance and closeness, combined with their superior performance, might threaten your self-regard.
Terror management theory
Definition: Terror management theory (TMT) proposes that humans cope with the existential terror of death awareness by investing in cultural worldviews and striving for self-esteem.
Explanation: Imagine you’re a character in a play, and the play’s ending (death) is known. To manage the anxiety, you immerse yourself in the play’s narrative (cultural worldview) and seek validation for your role (self-esteem). TMT suggests this is how we deal with mortality.
Symbolic immortality
Definition: Symbolic immortality refers to the belief that one’s essence or legacy will continue beyond physical death, achieved through contributions to society, family, or a larger cause.
Explanation: Imagine a renowned scientist whose research significantly improves human lives. Even after their death, their work continues to benefit society, providing a form of symbolic immortality. This contrasts with literal immortality, focusing on the enduring impact of one’s actions and ideas.
Simulation theory
Definition: Simulation theory posits that understanding others’ minds involves simulating their mental states, using our own cognitive processes as a model.
Explanation: Imagine trying to predict a friend’s reaction to bad news. You mentally ‘try on’ their perspective, drawing on your own emotional responses to similar situations. This internal simulation helps you anticipate their behavior, demonstrating simulation theory in action.
Social projection
Definition: Social projection is the tendency to assume that others share one’s own beliefs, attitudes, and values.
Explanation: Imagine you love opera; you might assume your friends also appreciate it. This is social projection , projecting your internal state onto others, often leading to inaccurate assumptions about their perspectives. It’s a cognitive shortcut, but can lead to misunderstandings.
The loss of self
Definition: The loss of self refers to a diminished sense of individual identity and agency, characterized by a feeling of detachment from one’s thoughts, feelings, and body.
Explanation: Imagine a rollercoaster; the intense experience can temporarily eclipse your sense of self. Similarly, the loss of self, often in extreme situations or altered states, involves a blurring of the boundaries between self and environment. This can be linked to concepts like depersonalization disorders and self-transcendent experiences.
Self transcendent experiences (STE)
Definition: Self-transcendent experiences (STEs) are states of consciousness where individuals feel a profound connection to something larger than themselves, often characterized by feelings of unity, awe, and transcendence of the self.
Explanation: Imagine standing atop a mountain, gazing at a breathtaking sunset. This feeling of awe and connection to something greater than yourself, a sense of oneness with nature, exemplifies an STE. STEs temporarily diminish self-focus, fostering feelings of interconnectedness and meaning.
Depersonalization Disorders
Definition: Depersonalization disorder is a dissociative disorder characterized by persistent or recurring feelings of detachment or estrangement from oneself, one’s body, or one’s surroundings.
Explanation: Imagine watching a movie of your own life, feeling like you’re observing yourself from outside your body. This persistent feeling of detachment, affecting both self and reality, is the core of depersonalization disorder. It’s distinct from other dissociative disorders, focusing on a disruption of self-experience, not memory.
