Identity and Personality Flashcards
Self-concept
Our own internal list of answers to the question “Who am I?”. Goes beyond self-schema and includes who we used to be and who we will become
Self-schema
A self-given label that carries with it a set of qualities (e.g. the athlete self-schema usually carries the qualities of youth, physical fitness, and dressing and acting in certain ways)
Identity
Defined as the individual components of our self-concept related to the groups in which we belong
Gender identity
Describes a person’s appraisal of him- or herself on scales of masculinity and femininity
Androgyny
The state of being simultaneously very masculine and very feminine
Undifferentiated
People who achieve low scores on both the masculinity and felinity scale
Theory of gender schema
Holds that key components of gender identity are transmitted through cultural and societal means
Ethnic identity
Refers to one’s ethnicity, in which members typically share a common ancestry, cultural heritage, and languages
Nationality
Based on political borders. The result of shared history, media, cuisine, and national symbols such as a country’s flag
Hierarchy of salience
The organization of our identities such that we let the situation dictate which identity holds the most important for us at any given moment
Self-discrepancy theory
Maintains that each of us has three selves: actual, ideal, and ought
Actual self
Made up of our self-concept. The way we see ourselves as we currently are
Ideal self
The person we would like to be
Ought self
Our representation of the ways others think we should be
Self-esteem
Self-worth
Self-efficacy
Our belief in our ability to succeed
Overconfidence
Can lead us to take on tasks for which we are not ready, leading to frustration, humiliation, or personal injury
Learned helplessness
When self-efficacy is depressed past the point of recovery. The point at which individuals to attempting to avoid a bad consequence.
Locus of control
Refers to the way we characterize the influences in our lives. People with an internal locus of control view themselves of controlling their own fate. Whereas those with an external locus of control feels that events in their lives are caused by luck or outside influence
Libido
Sex drive
Fixation
Occurs when a child is overindulged or overly frustrated during a stage of development
Neurosis
The personality pattern formed by a child in response to anxiety caused by fixation. Persists into adulthood as a functional mental disorder
Oral stage
First stage of psychosexual development. 0-1 yr. Gratification obtained primarily by putting objects into the mouth, biting, and sucking. Libidinal energy is centered on the mouth. Orally fixated adults exhibit excessive dependency.
Anal stage
Second stage of psychosexual development. 1-3 yrs. In this stage libido is centered on the anus and gratification is gained through the elimination and retention of waste materials. Fixation in this stage results in excessive orderliness or sloppiness in the adult
Phallic or Oedipal stage
Third stage of psychosexual development. 3-5 yrs. Centers on the resolution of Oedipal/Electra conflict. Boys take after their fathers during this stage because of their castration fears and girls take after their mothers because they have penis envy (making them exhibit less stereotypically female behavior and less morally developed). The child de-eroticizes (sublimates) his libidinal energy by collecting objects or focusing on schoolwork
Latency
Fourth stage of psychosexual development. Starts when the libido is completely sublimated and ends when puberty is reached.
Genital stage
Beginning in puberty and lasting through adulthood. If prior development has proceeded correctly, the person should enter into healthy heterosexual relationships. If sexual traumas of childhood have not been resolved, such behaviors as homosexuality, asexuality, or fetishism may result
Trust vs. mistrust
First conflict of psychosocial development. 0-1 yr. If resolved successfully the child will come to trust his environment, if unresolved the child will often be suspicious of the world, possibly throughout their life
Autonomy vs. shame and doubt
Second conflict of psychosocial development. 1-3 yrs. Resolution is feeling able to exert control over the world and exercise choice as well as self-restraint. Unfavorable outcome is a sense of doubt and a persistent external locus of control
Initiative vs. guilt
Third conflict of psychosocial development. 3-6 yrs. Favorable outcome is a sense of purpose, the ability to enjoy accomplishment, and the ability to initiate activities. Unfavorable outcome is the child is so overcome by fear of punishment that they may either unduly restrict themselves, or overcompensating by showing off.
Industry vs. inferiority
Fourth conflict of psychosocial development. 6-12 yrs. The favorable outcome is the child feeling competent, with the ability to exercise his or her abilities and intelligence in the world, and the ability affect the world in any way they desire. Unfavorable outcome is a sense of inability to act in a competent manner and low self-esteem
Identity vs. role confusion
Fifth conflict of psychosocial development. 12-20 yrs. Encompasses a physiological revolution. Favorable outcome is fidelity, the ability to see oneself as a unique and integrated person with sustained loyalties. Unfavorable outcome is confusion about one’s identity and an amorphous personality that shifts form day to day
Intimacy vs. loneliness
Sixth conflict of psychosocial development. 20-40 yrs. Favorable outcomes are love, the ability to have intimate relationships, and the ability to commit oneself to another person and to one’s own goals. Unfavorable outcome is an avoidance of commitment, alienation, distancing of oneself from others and one’s ideals. Isolated individuals are either withdrawn or capable of only superficial relationships with others.
Generativity vs. stagnation
Seventh conflict of psychosocial development. 40-65 yrs. Favorable outcome is the individual being capable of being a productive, caring, and contributing member of society. Unfavorable outcome is that the individual acquires a sense of stagnation and may become self-indulgent, bored, and self-centered with little care to others.
Integrity vs. despair
Final conflict of psychosocial development. 65+. Favorable outcome is wisdom (a detached concern from life itself), assurance in the meaning of life, dignity, and an acceptance of the fact that one’s life has been worthwhile along with a readiness to face death. Unfavorable outcome is bitterness about one’s life, a feeling that life has been worthless, and fear over one’s impending death
Preconventional morality
The first stage of moral development. Typical of preadolescents. Places an emphasis on the consequence of the moral choice.
Stage 1 of moral development
Obedience. Concerned with avoiding punishment.
Stage 2 of moral development
Self-interest. Concerned with gaining rewards. Aka instrumental relativist stage because it’s based on the concepts of reciprocity and sharing
Conventional morality
Second phase of moral development. Begins to develop in early adolescence, when individual begin to see themselves in terms of their relationships to others.
Stage 3 of moral development
Conformity. Places emphases on the “good boy, nice girl” orientation in which person seeks the approval of others
Stage 4 of moral development
Law and order. Maintains the social order in the highest regard
Postconventional morality
Describes a level of morality that not everyone is capable of and is baed on social mores which may conflict with laws
Stage 5 of moral development
Social context. Views moral rules as conventions that are designed to ensure the greater good, with reasoning focused on individual rights
Stage 6 of moral development
Universal human rights. Reasons that decisions should be made in consideration of abstract principles
Zone of proximal development
Vygotsky’s concept which refers to those skills and abilities that have not yet fully developed but are in the process of being developed. Gaining skills requires the help of a “More knowledgable other”
Role-taking
When growing children experiment with other identities by taking on the roles of others, such as when playing house or school.