Identity Flashcards
Self Schema
a self-given label that carries with it a set of qualities
Identity
individual components of our self-concept related to the groups to which we belong
What are the different types of identity? (3)
- gender
- ethnic
- national
Gender Identity
- describes a persons appraisal of his/herself on scales of masculinity and femininity
- includes: androgyny, undifferentiated
What age is gender identity typically established?
age 3
Androgyny
state of being simultaneously very masculine and very feminine
Undifferentiated
individuals who are simultaneously not very masculine or feminine
Gender Schema
theory that says key components of gender identity are transmitted through cultural and societal norms
Ethnic Identity
refers to ones ethnic group in which members typically share a common ancestry, cultural heritage, and language
National Identity
- based on political borders
- result of shared history, media, cuisine, and national symbols
Hierarchy of Salience
- how our identities are organized
- typically let the situation dictate which identity holds the most importance at any given moment
- the more salient the identity the more we conform to the role expectations of the identities
What is salience determined by?
it is determined by how much interest we have in the identity, the rewards/gratifications associated with the identity, and the amount of self-esteem associated with the identity
Self Discrepancy Theory
- states that each one of us has 3 selves:
(1) actual self: made-up by our self concept, the way we see ourselves
(2) ideal self: the person we would like to be
(3) ought self: our representation of the way others think we should be
The closer the 3 selves in the self discrepancy theory are to each other the higher the _______
self esteem
Self-Efficacy
our belief in our ability to succeed
Learned Helplessness
- a behavior that occurs when a subject endures repeatedly painful/aversive stimuli which is is unable to escape/avoid
- subject often fails to learn or accept escape/avoidance in new situations where such behavior is likely to be effective
Locus of Control
- closely related to self concept
- refers to the way we characterize the influences in our lives
External Locus of Control
view that events in subjects’ life are caused by luck or outside influences
Internal Locus of Control
view that subject controls their fate
Freud’s Psychosocial Theory of Development
- believed that libidinal energy and the drive to reduce libidinal tension were the underlying dynamic forces that accounted for human psychological processes
- consists of 5 stages: oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital
Oral Stage
- Age: 0-1 year
- libidinal energy focused on the mouth
- fixation leads to excessive dependency
Anal Stage
- Age: 1-3 years
- libidinal energy focused on anus
- gratification gained through elimination and retention of waste materials
- fixation leads to excessive orderliness or mesiness
Phallic Stage
- Age: 3-5 years
- centers on resolution of oedipal conflict (males) or electra conflict (females)
- male envies fathers intimate relationship with mom so identifies with father to resolve conflict
- child sublimates libidinal energy so focuses on school etc
- females have penis envy
Latency Stage
- Age: 5 years-puberty
- libido is largely sublimated in this stage
Genital Stage
- Age: puberty-adulthood
- if prior development has proceeded correctly then individual is heterosexual
- if sexual traumas not resolved then individual is homosexual or asexual or has a fetish
Fixation
occurs when a child is overindulged or overly frustrated during a stage of development
Neurosis
- functional mental disorder persisting into adulthood that results from anxiety caused by fixation
- child forms a personality pattern based on the stage fixation occured
Erickson’s Psychosocial Development
- says that it is possible to fail at resolving the conflict central to each stage but it doesn’t mean mastery of each stage is required to move to the next
- successful resolution of a conflict is marked by answering an essential existential question
- 8 stages: trust v mistrust, autonomy v shame/doubt, initiative v guilt, industry v inferiority, identity v role confusion, intimacy v isolation, generativity v stagnation, integrity v despair
Trust vs. Mistrust
- Age: 0-1 year
- Existential question: can I trust the world?
Autonomy vs. Shame/Guilt
- Age: 1-3 years
- Existential question: is it ok to be me? (can I restrain myself/control my fate, or doubt and external loc)
Initiative vs. Guilt
- Age: 3-6 years
- Existential question: is it ok for me to do, move and act?
Industry vs. Inferiority
- Age: 6-12 years
- Existential question: can I make it in the world of people and things?
Identity vs. Role Confusion
- Age: 12-20 years
- Existential question: who am I? what can I be?
Intimacy vs. Isolation
- Age: 20-40 years
- Existential question: can I love?
Generativity vs. Stagnation
- Age: 40-65 years
- Existential question: can I make my life count? (if stagnation here then person is bored and self centered)
Integrity vs. Despair
- Age: 65-death
- Existential question: is it ok to have been me?
Kohlberg’s Moral Reasoning
- focus on the development of moral thinking
- organized moral reasoning into 6 distinct stages: preconventional, conventional, postconventional
Preconventional Morality
- Age: Preadolescence
- Stages:
(1) Obedience: avoiding punishment
(2) Self-Interest: gaining rewards
Conventional Morality
- Age: Adolescence to Adulthood
- Stages:
(3) Conformity: seek approval of others
(4) Law and Order: maintain social order to highest regard
Postconventional Morality
- Age: Adulthood (if at all)
- Stages:
(5) Social Contract: focus on greater good
(6) Universal Human Ethics: considers abstract principles
Vygotsky’s Cultural and Biosocial Development
- focus on understanding cognitive development
- driving force of cognitive development is child’s internalization of various aspects of culture — rules, symbols, language, etc
- includes zone of proximal development
Zone of Proximal Development
- those skills and abilities that have not fully developed but are in the process of development
- typically requires help of a more knowledgeable other to develop these skills
Theory of Mind
- ability to sense how another’s mind works
- allows us to recognize and react to how others think about us
