DEFINITIONS 4: The Self: Answering the Question “Who Am I?” Flashcards
social capital
The number of social ties each person has to others; typically these are connections people can draw on for knowledge, assistance, or other social goods.
self-deprecating
Putting ourselves down or implying that we are not as good as someone else.
ingratiation
When we try to make others like us by conveying that we like them; praising others to flatter them.
self-verification perspective
Theory that addresses the processes by which we lead others to agree with our views of ourselves; wanting others to agree with how we see ourselves.
self-promotion
Attempting to present ourselves to others as having positive attributes.
introspection
To privately contemplate “who we are.” It is a method for attempting to gain self knowledge.
salience
When someone or some object stands out from its background or is the focus of attention.
social identity theory
Addresses how we respond when our group identity is salient. Suggests that we will move closer to positive others with whom we share an identity but distance from other ingroup members who perform poorly or otherwise make our social identity negative.
personal-versus-social identity continuum
At the personal level, the self is thought of as a unique individual, whereas at the social identity level, the self is seen as a member of a group
intergroup comparisons
Judgments that result from comparisons between our group and another group.
intragroup comparisons
Judgments that result from comparisons between individuals who are members of the same group.
autobiographical memory
Concerned with memory of the ourselves in the past, sometimes over the life course as a whole.
possible selves
Image of how we might be in the future—either a “dreaded” potential to be avoided or “desired” potential that can be strived for.
self-control
Achieved by refraining from actions we like and instead performing actions we prefer not to do as a means of achieving a long-term goal.
ego-depletion
The lowered capacity to exert subsequent self-control following earlier efforts to exert self-control. Performance decrements are typically observed when people’s ego strength has been depleted by prior efforts at self-control.
