L09 - The Desire for a Consistent Self

Question 1

What is self-verification?

Answer 1

overview of self-verification theory (Swann, 1983):
- key proposition: fundamental motivation to seek confirmation of existing self-conceptions

Question 2

What are the key assumptions of the self-verification theory?

Answer 2

1. stable self-views provide coherence
2. patterns of living leads to stable self-views
3. people fight to maintain self-views, even in discomfort

Question 3

Why do we seek self-verification?

Answer 3

Two functions
- 1. Epistemic (fulfills the need for coherence)
– stable self-views provide us wtih a source of continuity and coherence to experience
– others confirming our self-views further stabilizes these self-views
- 2. Pragmatic (ensures smooth social interactions)
– stable self-views stabilize behaviour which makes us more predictable to others

Question 4

What are the nature and origin of coherence strivings?

Answer 4

Philosophical perspective on the essential role of coherence
- fundamental to understanding oneself
- philosophers emphasize the importance of a unified self-concept
- coherence contributes to a meaningful and integrated self

development of self-views as a lens for perceiving reality
- self-views act as a cognitive lens shaping perception
- we filter and interpret experiences through our self-concept
- coherence in self-views establishes a cognitive foundation for understanding the world

Question 5

What is the evolutionary perspective on stable self-views?

Answer 5

advantages of behavioural stability:
- small social groups
- cooperation: cohesion + cooperation in close-knit settings

survival and self-views:
- behavioural stability linked to survival
- impact on self-views in group harmony
- evolutionary fitness

Question 6

What are the two classes of self-verification strategies?

Answer 6

Two classes of self-verification activities:
1. developing a self-confirmatory social environment
2. cognitive biases

Question 7

How do we develop a self-confirmatory social environment?

Answer 7

Three activities people participate in:
1. Selective interaction
- strategic relationship choices
- psychological stability

2. Displaying identity cues
3. Interpersonal prompts

Question 8

What is the evidence for selective interaction?

(i.e., how does selective interaction influence relationships?)

Answer 8

laboratory and field studies support the idea that people prefer self-verifying evaluations

some ways in which selective interaction influences relationships:
1. selective interaction influences the development and maintenance of relationships
2. positive feedback loop: selecting interactions that reinforce self-views contributes to positive relationship experiences
3. individuals actively seek out and engage with others who validate their self-conceptions

Question 9

What are some cognitive biases in self-verification?

Answer 9

cognitive biases contribute to maintaining stable self-views, even in the face of contradictory information:
- selective attention: tendency to focus on information that aligns with existing self-views
- encoding bias: information inconsistent with self-views may be processed with less emphasis or altered during encoding
- retrieval bias: recalling information that supports and confrims pre-existing self-conceptions
- interpretation bias: interpreting ambiguous information in a manner that aligns with one’s self-concept

Question 10

How does the interpretation of feedback contribute to maintaining stable self-views?

Answer 10

how people endorse feedback that aligns with their self-conceptions
- preference for information that aligns with our self-views, contributing to self-verification

attribution of self-confirmatory feedback to personal characteristics
- the process involves attributing self-confirmatory feedback to inherent personal characteristics
- individuals interpret feedback as a reflection of enduring traits, reinforcing their self-identity

Question 11

What is the concept of compensatory self-verification?

Answer 11

compensating for potential self-discrepant feedback

when faced with the threat of feedback inconsistent with slef-views, individuals engage in compensatory actions

individuals’ efforts to elicit self-confirmatory responses intensify when faced with potential self-discrepant feedback
- proactive measures taken to maintain a consistent self-identity in the face of potential challenges

Question 12

What is the symbolic self-completion theory?

Answer 12

receiving feedback that is inconsistent with an important self-view/important goal feels threatening

we will compensate for this threat by engaging in a task that confirms and substantiates the threatened self-view

Question 13

Describe Gollwitzer & Wicklund’s study on the symbolic self-completion theory (1984).

what happens when important identity is threatened?

Answer 13

Method: recruited heterosexual male journalism students
- experimental manipulation:
– confirm: “you fit the ideal profile of being a journalist”
– threat: “you don’t fit the ideal profile of being a journalist”
- met attractive female undergraduate, “Debbie”
- experimental manipulation
– Debbie likes “modest guys” OR
– Debbie likes “guys who think they’re great”
- described themselves to Debbies: “How capable do you think you think you are in journalism in comparison to other students?”

Finding:
- evidence that when an important identity is threatened, we bolster this identity (symbolic self-completion)

Question 14

What are some counterpoints to positive evaluations?

(contrast between self-verification and self-enhancement)

and what does this mean when thinking about human behaviour?

Answer 14

contrast between self-verification strivings and self-enhancement strivings:
- Motivational Difference
– self-verification: focus on coherence and stability in self-views
– self-enhancement: driven by the desire to be liked and socially accepted
- Divergent Dynamics
– self-verification: prioritizes accuracy in self-reflection
– self-enhancement: may prioritize likability over accuracy

what does this mean when thinking about human behaviour?
- Impact on Interactions
– potential conflict in social interactions
– individuals navigate a balance between both motivations
- Psychological Insights
– highlights the intricate interplay in human behaviour
– influences choices and relationships

Question 14

What are the benefits of self-verification?

Answer 14

growing evidence of self-verification predicting adaptive outcomes

levels of analysis
1. Individual:
– positive versus negative self-views
2. Interpersonal:
– evolutionary perspective
– benefits in diverse groups
3. Societal:
– “value in diversity” hypothesis
– eradicating social stereotypes
– identity fusion and progroup behaviour

Question 15

Describe Swann et al.’s study on self-verification vs. self-enhancement (1989).

do we prefer others to see us as we really are or to like us?

Answer 15

Method: recruited high and low self-esteem people
- high self-esteem: self-enhancement and self-verification motives aligned
- low self-esteem: self-enhancement (being seen positively) and self-verification (being seen negatively) motives in conflict
- “Getting acquainted study””
– chose interaction partner for 2-3 hour conversation
– allowed to see evaluations of them made by two potential interaction partners

Findings
- high self-esteem: prefer favourable view
- low self-esteem: prefer unfavourable view
- therefore, self-verification chosen over self-enhancement

Question 16

TRUE or FALSE: low self-esteem people remain in relationships in which their spouse views them overly positively.

(close relationships)

Answer 16

FALSE: low self-esteem people withdraw in relationships in which their spouse views them overly positively

Question 17

What does the finding that we prioritize self-verification over self-enhancement imply?

Answer 17

desire for self-verification explains why we’ll tolerate not being liked by others
- okay as long as we’re being seen for the real us

desire for self-verification explains why some people are in unhealthy relationships
- know it’s unhealthy, but feels familiar and therefore more authentic

Question 18

What is the interplay of self-verification and self-enhancement strivings?

(Hint: two principles)

Answer 18

1. Investment Principle:
   - individuals who are deeply invested in their self-concept are more likely to engage in increased efforts to seek confirmation/validation of their existing self-views
   – higher investment leads to increased self-verification
   – certainty and importance intensify self-verification
2. Accessibility Principle:
   - influences how easily thoughts about ourselves come to mind
   - impacts how we balance two desires:
   – wanting our self-views to be in line with how we see ourselves (self-verification)
   – wnating to see ourselves positively (self-enhancement)
   - if positive thoughts about ourselves are readily available, they can influence this balance in our thinking and behaviour

Question 19

What are some recent extensions of the self-verification theory?

and is self-verification a universal motive?

Answer 19

Cultural Variations
- evidence from Western and collectivistic cultures
- types of self-views may differ, but underlying concerns are universal

is self-verification a universal motive?
- consideration of self-verification across diverse cultures
- epistemic and pragmatic concerns as universal drivers

Question 20

What is found beyond the verification of personal self-views?

Answer 20

there is a broader spectrum of self-knowledge

research reveals the pursuit of verification for collective self-views within social groups

personal self-views represent a subset of self-knowledge

individuals also strive for verification of collective self-views, which intertwine personal self-views with social groups

Question 21

Describe Chen et al.’s study on collective verification (2006).

how do individuals perceive themselves and others within the context of collective identity?

Answer 21

Method: recruited members of a campus religious group

main study session (fall):
- rated themselves and their partners on attributes relevant to being a member
- “importance of identity” questionnaire
- rated how prototypical they were as members
- rated themselves on 20 attributes, providing insights into their self-views within the group

follow-up sesson (5 months later)

the study investigated how well individuals’ self-views aligned with how others in their religious group perceived them

key findings:
1. positive alignment with the group correlated with higher commitment and dedication to it
2. the more important the attribute rated, the more agreement there was between the way Ps saw themselves and how their partners saw them in those specific qualities
3. follow-up data provided insights into the lasting impact of collective self-verification on self-perceptions and dedication:
– even after 5 months, the correlation between self-perception and partners’ perception was still associated with Ps seeing themselves as “typical” group members and overall dedication to the group

Question 22

What is the importance of collective verification?

Answer 22

collective verification is stronger when self-views within the group are deemd important

evidence suggests that verification efforts extend beyond personal self-views to encompass collective self-views