illusions about the self

Question 1

most people have which three illusions about the self:

Answer 1

1. overly positive self evaluations
2. illusions of control
3. unrealistic optimism bias

Question 2

self enhancement

Answer 2

we have a fundamental motivation to see ourselves positively - this creates a tendency to maintain unrealistically positive views of ourselves

Question 3

evidence for overly positive self evaluations (6)

Answer 3

• people use more positive traits to describe themselves than negative traits
• we are more likely to forget negative feedback than positive feedback
• we remember our successes more easily
• we engage in downward social comparisons
• self serving attributional bias - we claim credit for successes but blame failures on the situation
• talents are unique, weaknesses common

Question 4

better than average effect

Answer 4

most people rate their abilities as better than the average person even though it is statistically impossible for most people to be above average

Question 5

desirability of traits and better than average effect

Answer 5

the more desirable a trait, the more people see themselves as better than average on this trait

and:

the more desirable a trait, the more likely people see this trait as descriptive of themselves

Question 6

skill estimates

Answer 6

we rate ourselves better than objectively warranted in most domains

Question 7

personal control and wellbeing

Answer 7

the idea that we have control over our lives is central to most theories of self esteem and well being

Question 8

illusions of personal control

Answer 8

control beliefs tend to be greater than what is justified
- ex
- people think they have more control over outcome of dice if they’re allowed to throw them than if someone else throws them
- people believe that choosing their own lottery tickets will lead to a better outcome than if someone else chooses them for them
- neuroscience shows that neurons in our brain actually start firing before we consciously decide to do something

Question 9

unrealistic optimism bias

Answer 9

people tend to think that they are less likely than others to experience negative events and more likely to experience positive events

Question 10

unrealistic optimism bias and risk assessment

Answer 10

• smokers underestimate their risk of lung cancer compared to non smokers and compared to the average smoker
• thinking about one’s own risk factors doesn’t decrease optimism bias - undergrad drinking risk program

Question 11

adaptive illusions: university adjustment

Answer 11

higher self esteem and more optimism led to higher gpas and better adjustment in first year uni students

Question 12

adaptive illusions: aids risks

Answer 12

aids specific optimism - perceived immunity/immune system strength
associated with higher perceived control, more active coping and healthier behaviour - didn’t compromise health behaviour

Question 13

expectations and aids course

Answer 13

• estimated survival time was 9 months shorter for individuals who showed a high degree of acceptance after an aids diagnosis

Question 14

individualistic self enhancement theory

Answer 14

self enhancement is unique/more evident in individualistic societies because it is consistent with cultural ideals of uniqueness and self assertion and inconsistent with collectivistic values of belonging and fitting in

Question 15

pancultural self enhancement

Answer 15

people will self enhance on traits that are important and consistent with cultural values - we all still have a fundamental need for positive self views so self enhancement is universal, it just looks different in different cultures