*****Lecture 3 - Self Knowledge Flashcards
Define introspection
The activity of holding your own beliefs, memories, thoughts and feelings in concsious attention - examing the self as an object. Not introversion or rumination
Define the introspection illusion
Belief that we have accurate understanding of our own thoughts, motivations, beliefs, feelings etc - think our reflective thoughts are true and accurate/ objective
What are the causes of the introspective illusion?
- F.A.E - underestimate influence of the situation
- Implicit/ unconcious processes - unware of certain processes - habits/ impulses
- Confabulation - filling in gaps in our concious awareness, making disconnected thoughts consistent
Where does self-knolwedge come from? 2 things
1) Instrumental self-analysis - Ability to complete tasks, objective pass/fail, learn about self
2) Social self-analysis - Attributes defined only by virtue of others
In terms of the introspective illusion, who explored a poor awarness of learning?
Carpenter et al (2013)
Outline Carpenter et al (2013)
- p’s either had a fluent lecturer or an unfluent lecutre
- if they had a fluent lecturer, they predicted that they had learnt more.
- both groups actually learned the same
Outline the Dunning-Kruger effect (1999)
- P’s dont know what they dont know
- Bottom 25% overestimated performance, top undereestimated performance
- unaware of abilities
Which two people explored the poor awareness of priming?
Jiang et al (2009)
Spears et al (2004)
Outline Spears er al (2004)
- told students they’re neat, they then did a colouring book neatly, thinking they were neat
Outline Jiang et al (2009)
- P’s told more lucky numbers, then gambled riskier
- P’s didnt know they had been primed, despite it changing their behaviour
Who argued that poor awarness of cognitive primingdoesnt exist?
Doyen et al (2012)
Define panic attacks
- Sudden, overwhelming, unexpected sense of doom - activates fight or flight
- feelings of about to die, very distressing/ tiring, often without logical external trigger, temporary
- physical symptoms of anxiety lead to more anxious thoughts which repeats the cycle
- CBT teaches how to interupt this stage
Outline problems with predicting future behaviour
- We underestimate situational factors
- DOnt believe data on past behaviour
- Over influenced by image of possible future self
- Optimis bias concering personal future behaviour
Who explored the problems with predicting future behaviour?
Epley + Dunning (2000) - ‘Holier than thou’
OUtline Epley + Dunning (2000) - ‘Holier than thou’
- Daffodils
- Asked students if they would buy one, and how many, also how many would others buy?
- 86% said they would, average of 2
- predicted 56% others would, 1.6 average
- only 43% bought, average 1.2
- predictinos of others were more accurate than of self
Define affective forecasting
Predicting ones own future emotional states - how somethings going to make us feel
Define impact bias in terms of affective forcecasting
- Anticipate to never get over bad things
- anticipate that good things make us feel happy for ages
Define focalism
- Overestimating impact of an event - how much it will influence our thoughts/ feelings
Who did a study into focalism?
Gilbert et al (1998)
Outline Gilbert et al (1998)
- Sports fan estimate that wining a match leads to days of happiness, its usually just 1
Outline problems with explaining past behaviour
- We think we know reasons for behaviour, but frequently wrong
Who did a study into problems with explaining past behaviour
Nisbett + Wilson (1977)
OUtline Nisbett and wilson (1977)
Asked p’s to evaluate clothes in shopping mall and expain their choices - p’s said fashion, celeb etc
- Actually just picked up clothes on the right hand side
Who did a study in falsely interpreting internal states/
Zillman et al (1974)
OUtline Zillman et al (1974)
- p’s rode bike to increase heart rate and blood pressure
- P’s overestimated how quickly their body actually calmed down
- Then asked to respond to aggressive behaviour
- if p’s were aroused + aware: low aggression
- If p’s were unaroused: low aggressions
- if p’s were aroused + unaware: high aggression
- linked to schacter and singer
What does research argue the self develops towards?
- Stability and consistency
Who came up with the criticism of introspection?
Wilson + Dunn (2004)
What are Wilson + Dunn (2004) criticisms of introspection as a research method
X - no access to non-concious mental process
X - Focuses attention on unrepresentative data about self
X - leads to incomplete/ incorrect normatives of behviour
X - Promotes rumination - can lead to mental distress and depression
Define Self-esteem
- Evaluation of self, to the point in which we assign/ believe in our self worth
- extent to which we approve of ourselves/ believe ourselves capable, significant, successful worthy
Who came up with a SE scale?
Rosenberg SE scale
Outline the types of SE
- explicit SE - concious evaluation, how good we are at something, could be public
- Implicit SE - automatic, unconcious
- Non- contingent SE - success at tasks, feedback from others. Need self-compassion to avoid overwhelming negative emotions
What are the influences on SE, and define them?
- Reflected appraisal (parents, bullying, ostracism)
- ## Social comparison (upwards or downwards), to others, or to ideal self
Who did a study into how not all negative events reduce SE?
Crocker et al (2002)
OUtline Crocker et al (2002)
- Had p’s waiting to hear if they got into grad school
- had to rate happiness if accepted/ rejected
- Those who didnt base self-concept on academics didnt care
- Those who did had large fluctuations
Who did the study into gendre congruent subjects?
Crocker et al (2003)
Crocker et al (2003)
- For those in gender congruent subjects (male - engineering, female - psychology), higher grades led to higher SE
- In gender incongruent subjects, higher grades had little effect
Define Self-enhancement
- People naturally resist decreases in SE - capitalise on opportunities to increase it
Who did a study into Self-enhancement?
Zell + Alicke (2009)
Outline Zell + Alicke (2009)
- p’s were either told they were above average, average or below
- Students also told their grades were improving or decreasing
- improvements -> Increased self-ratings
- Decreasing -> no effects
According to Jessers Maintanence model (2003), when someone close to us outperforms us, what do we do?
- Pretend the tak is outside our interests
- See task as relevant - damages SE
Who came up with the genuis effect?
Alicke et al (1997)
Outline Alicke et al (1997)
- When beaten, we try to invalidate the test - its unfair
- when we win, we try to validate the test
- to maintain a positive self- concept
Define self-handicapping
- We self-sabotage to boost SE
- Avoiding behaviour that may increase chance of success
- Self-destructive behaviour to inhibit success
- Plausible excuse for anticipated failure
Who explored self-sabotage?
Niiya et al (2010)
Outline Niiya et al (2010)
Gave groups chance to study with/ without distraction
- Group 1 believed in practice improving performance, self worth based on acadamic performance
- Group 2: Blieved in trait fixedness
- Group 1 self-handicapped
Who did the study into Facebook and SE?
Mehdizadeh (2010)
OUtline Mehdizadeh (2010)
Those with Low rosenberg SE scales - spent more time tying to boost self image on fb - updatade profile pic more, drew attention to it, didt lie
Who did a study into the spotlight effect?
Glovich, 2002
Outline Glovich, 2002
- p’s had to enter room either in embarassing shirt, or short they’re proud to wear
- in embarassing condition, overestimated how much people looked at them
