Lecture 22: Self Flashcards
2 Extreme Views on The Self
- Romantic Theory of the Authentic Self- belief that the person you are presenting is really who you are
- The presentation of Self in Everyday Life- Advertise a self
Self we advertise
“Beneffective”
- Beneficient
- Effective
Why present as beneficent?
- Reciprocal Altruism
-Benefit to have others cooperate with you
Present self as nice, kind, generous, trustworthy, so that others will cooperate, share, extended favor
Altruist Market
People compete for reciprocity partners
To compete, one must advertise
- Cooperate first move
- Cooperate with those who cooperated with you
- Cooperate by offering larger benefits to one partner than other cooperators
Why present as effective
-Showing others you have the ability to help
Two Forms of effectiveness
Dominance- I can hurt you
Status- I can help you
Psychology of Dominance
Agression of Animals often non-lethal; bluffing, displays, retreat
-Old theory- “Good of the species”
-New Theory- prevent harm to both parties if outcome is predictable
Dominance: Pecking order, alpha males
Differences among individuals in resource holding potential (size and strength)
Exaggerated Advertisements- Ruffs, Balloons, bristling, rearing bellowing
Female Dominance= More food
Male Dominance= More mates
Dominance Displays in Humans
-High ranking men get more wives, lovers, affairs
Big Man, Effects of height
- Larger Salary
-More political Power
Physical Signs of Dominance- size, height, exaggerated body parts
(Ex, Male clothes exaggerating shoulders)
Testosterone- Causes and Effects Dominance
Men with higher T= More competitive
When they win(or team wins) competition–> T increases
-Trivial Insults as major cause of homicide
-Greater culture of honor
Psychology of Status
Status- Public knowledge that you have assets that allow you to help others
-beauty
-irreplaceable talent
-wealth
Status is relative
Beauty Displays in Animals seem harmful because easier for predators to see you
Because the display indicates greater fitness, actually more beneficial
Fashion
Fashion≠ Beauty
Psychology of Fashion
Lower status- Look like those above you
High Status- Look different from those below you
Result- Arbitrary fluctuations in fashion
“Conspicuous Outrage”
“So talented, wealthy, popular, and connected that I can afford to offend you”
People acquire and waste large amount of resources simply to show that they can
Conformity Effects
Shows people aren’t beneficent as they say
-Experiments with are groups show that individuals look to others before elevating a response
(Ex. Someone cries out help but surrounding people do nothing, subject is more likely to do nothing)
Fundamental Attribution Error
Invididuals put too much importance on traits and not enough emphasis on environment
(Ex. Milgram Experiment-
Minimal Factors= gender, education, age
Major Factors= proximity of experimenter and victim)
(Ex. Experiment where manager and clerk groups were randomly assigned to subjects. Manager subjects then perceived as better leaders, higher IQ
Manager subjects took behavior of bosses and parents
Confuse actors with their roles)
Actor Observer Discrepancy
Exception to the Fundamental Attribution Error- When talking about oneself
I am controlled by the situation
He is controlled by his personality
Lie About Ourselves
Hard to be a good liar
- Causes undo anxiety
- Must remember the intricacies of the lie
- Human and mechanical lie detectors
Self Deception
- One part of mind believes self is extremely beneficent and effective
- Another part of the mind registers the truth–> Freud Defense mechanisms
(Ex. Split Brian Patients Images and commands. Follow through with the commands and construct false reasons why)
(Ex. Lake Wobegon Effect- 60-70 percent of people say above average, but 25% say below average. Human tendency to overestimate one’s capabilities and talents)
