Lecture 3- The Self

Question 1

What is self-concept?

Answer 1

A person’s answer to the question ‘who am i’?

Question 2

What are the 2 types of social identity?

Answer 2

Personal

Social

Question 3

What is personal identity?

Answer 3

Our unique, idiosyncratic attributes. E.g. hardworking or extrovert

Question 4

What is social identity?

Answer 4

The sense of who we are, derived from our membership in groups.

Question 5

What are the 3 theories linked with where self concept comes from?

Answer 5

Social comparison
Self perception
Reflected appraisal principle

Question 6

Where does self concept come from?

Answer 6

It is made up of different views of ourselves, relative to the different roles we play.
Different ways we begin to understand ourselves.

Question 7

Self perception theory

Answer 7

We make attributions of our own behaviour as well as others’ and these are built on our own self concept.
Involves “stepping outside ourselves” so we can observe how we behave an view our sense of self, in the same way we would observe others.

Question 8

Social comparison theory

Answer 8

To understand ourselves we make comparisons with others. Other people set the standard by which we define ourselves.
We evaluate our abilities and opinions against those that share similar abilities and opinions.
However, social comparisons are subjective.

Question 9

Reflected appraisals principle

Answer 9

Focuses on what others think of us.

We incorporate the views others have on us into our own self-concept.

Question 10

Self concept takes the for of what 2 theories?

Answer 10

Self discrepancy theory

Regulatory focus theory

Question 11

Form-Self discrepancy

Answer 11

This theory distinguishes between representations of our ACTUAL self, our IDEAL self, our OUGHT self.

Question 12

Self discrepancy- the actual self?

Answer 12

The current self an the attributes you possess.

Question 13

Self discrepancy- the ideal self?

Answer 13

What we hope to become, the attributes you would ideally possess.

Question 14

Self discrepancy- the ought self?

Answer 14

What we ought to become, the attributes we feel we ought to possess.

Question 15

Self discrepancy, what happens when discrepancies are apparent?

Answer 15

It can causes dejection between the actual self and the ideal self.
It can also causes agitation between the actual self and the ought self.

Question 16

What theory did self discrepancy theory develop into?

Answer 16

regulatory focus theory

Question 17

Regulatory focus theory

Answer 17

This theory proposes that both future selves have different goals.

Question 18

Regulatory focus theory, what does it say the goals are for the ideal self?

Answer 18

Attention shifts towards promotional goals with individuals striving to achieve an ideal state. Inspired by positive role models. E.g. trying to obtain the highest possible score.

Question 19

Regulatory focus theory, what does it say the goals are for the ought self?

Answer 19

Focuses attention towards prevention goals with individuals focusing on what one ‘ought’ not to do. These see negative role models as motivational and aspiring, as they’ve led to failure, they highlight strategies to avoid a similar fate. E.g. avoiding failure on a test.

Question 20

How is social identity produced?

Answer 20

We categorise ourselves and others into meaningful groups, this is social comparison theory. This involves classifying individuals into groups they either belong to or don’t belong to. Our identity is partly based on these group memberships.

Question 21

How do we evaluate the self?

Answer 21

Through self esteem and self-worth. Can also be enhanced by our social identity.

Question 22

Why are our self evaluations often consistent with what others think of us?

Answer 22

We have a strong need to see ourselves in a positive light and self-enhance our sense of ourselves. We tend to avoid negative info.

Question 23

Describe the study

Answer 23

Asked students to rate themselves on 4 personal attributes. Other students in the same group as them were asked to rate the students too. Results showed that students who rated themselves high on these attributes were more likely to be rather high by their fellow students. Supporting the REFLECTED APPRAISAL PRINCIPLE; if other think well of you, you tend to think well of yourself.

Question 24

What is a sociometer?

Answer 24

an internal monitor of social acceptance and belonging.

Question 25

The self in the real world through self discrepancy theory?

Answer 25

Health e.g. depression
Clinical e.g. weight
Sports e.g. pre-comp self confidence

Question 26

Out of the 57 most popular self help books, what are the 4 most distinct themes?

Answer 26

Growth
Coping
Relationships
Identity

Question 27

How is the self linked to reality shows?

Answer 27

The self is played out through reality shows providing us with a constant resource for making comparisons, considering out actual/ideal self and effecting out self esteem.

Question 28

What are the 4 ways researchers explore the self?

Answer 28

experiments
surveys
interviews
conversation