Lecture 8 Self Understanding Flashcards
T or F: We are born knowing who we are
False
_____ is the understanding of who and what we are. It is a slippery concept whose definition is elusive.
self
Self understanding is our ___________, and includes the roles we play, social category, race and religion.
Self concept or schema
How do we test self understanding in pre-verbal infants?
Called either the mirror technique, Rouge or Mark test
The mirror technique was originally used in _________research.
non-human
Describe the Rouge test:
A mark is secretly placed on the childs forehead (this will violate their self image if they have one). Thhe child is placed before the mirror. If the try and do something to remove the paint it shows that they recognize that as themself.
The results of the rouge test indicate that children develop a sense of self at _________
18 months
At what age do children begin to be disturbed by distorting mirrors in fun houses?
18 months
T or F: The rouge test agrees with Piaget
Why?
True - 18 months is when piaget said that mental representations began
What are some potential problems with the rouge test?
Could be that exposure to mirrors is important -chimps who had never been exposed to a mirror didn’t react.
Early childhood is described as ages___
6-7years
What are the 5 characteristics of self understanding in early childhood?
1) activities oriented
2) concrete
3) physical and material
4) centered
5) unrealistically positive
How are children in early childhood tested for self understanding?
through interviews
A child who describes themselves as knowing there ABCs is displaying the ______ characteristic of early childhood understanding.
concrete
T or F: Children in early childhood spontaneously make comparaisons
False - They are probably too egocentric to do this although they can do so if prompted
What types of comparisons do children in early childhood make?
Comparisons based on what they have or do
The characteristic of a 6 or 7 year old to describe the things they do and like to do is described as _____________.
Activities oriented- this is the central component of self understanding in young kids
Describe the difference between the actual vs the ideal self:
The actual self is how you currently are, the ideal self is how you would like to be.
A child who say that she can read while describing herself but who really can’t is showing the characteristic of __________ she is probably describing her _________ and is likely between the ages of ______
unrealistic positivist
ideal self
6-7
The 5 characteristics of self understanding in early childhood are in line with which of Piaget’s stages?
Preoperational stage
Describe the 4 traits of self understanding in Middle to Late childhood:
1) Shift to internal characteristics
2) Decentered
3) Spontaneous use of social references
4) More realistic
Describe how mid to late childhood kids are more realistice:
- They understand the difference between their actual vs ideal self
- Social comparison - they evaluate themselves against others
Describe accomplishments of self understanding in adolescence ?
1) increasingly abstract self descriptions
2) highly self-conscious (preoccupied with self)
3) increased ability to distinguish b/w ideal and actual self with the addition of possible selves
4) fluctuations in self understanding -inconsistencies
5) eventual integration into whole concept of self
Self understanding in adolescence consistent with which of Piaget’s stages:
Formal operations
Piaget’s concrete operational stage is consistent with which ages characteristics of self understanding?
Mid to late childhood:
- Shift to internal characteristics
- Decentered
- Spontaneous use of social references
- More realistic
Someone who describes themself as someone who could become a doctor if they study hard and get into the right schools is describing their ______ self and is likely in __________
possible
adolescence
If when asked to describe themself they say “I am in girl scouts and I have two friends” the stage of self understanding they are most likely to be in is ________ and they are showing most dominantly the trait of _______
early to late childhood
spontaneous social referencing
Someone who describes them self as:
“I like to bike, own an ant farm and am nice”
Is likely in __________ and is showing which 3 characteristics __________
early childhood
activities oriented - like to bike
physical material - own an ant farm
centered - only nice doesn’t recognize he can be other things
Someone who describes them self as:
“I am reading level 3 but want to be reading level 5, I’m better at reading than Sally”
Is _______showing a distinction b/w ____________ as well as ________and is likely in __________
more realistic
the actual (reading lvl 3) and ideal self (reading level 5)
social comparison (better than Sally)
Mid to late childhood
Someone who describes them self as:
“I don’t really know who I am, I think about it lots. I’m different with different people. I’m naturally funny but sometimes I forget and hurt people’s feelings”
Is likely in __________ and is showing which 2 characteristics __________
adolescence
highly self conscious -preoccupied with self understand
- (I don’t really know/ think about it lots)
increasingly abstract self-descriptions
Someone who describes them self as:
“Sometimes I think I know who I am and then I don’t. I’m changing all the time”
Is likely in __________ and is showing which 3 characteristics __________
Adolescence
fluctuations in self understanding
highly self conscious