Lecture: October 16th (Self-Affirmation) Flashcards
What are threats to the self?
Perceived failures to meet culturally, socially or personally significant standards
How can we avoid threats to the self?
-Positive illusions
-Biased outlooks on our experiences
What is global self integrity?
Group identities
Like student values etc
What is cognitive dissonance?
Motivated to maintain consistent thoughts and behaviours
It happens when you act in some way that’s inconsistent with attitudes
-ex. Smoking when anti smoker
How can people maintain consistent values if they act out of character?
They shift their attitudes
Can be a way to convince someone
When people behave inconsistently with their attitudes, how can they retain their values?
If they affirm their values after, their attitudes will change less.
What is the Free choice spread of alternatives?
When you have a value orientation and wear something in line with those values ➡️ affirms values
When you choose to put something on that doesn’t affirm your values, what happens?
Spread of alternative effect
Devalue the other option
Does prejudice function as a self enhancer? Would reducing self esteem increase prejudice?
Yes, people are more prejudiced when upset!
What is cessation of rumination through self affirmation?
When someone receives failure feedback
They can access their goal related thoughts easier
If you self affirm before or after a failure, you’ll eliminate rumination. Decrease negative mood, and improve self esteem.
Self affirmation study amongst the poor (just a study/ freebie)
Asked them what moment in their life made them feel proud
After this, they preformed better on cognitive tests
How are we biased with opposing opinions
Ex. Abortion
(You’ll favour which side you’re on)
Adversary: more objective and trustworthy
Advocate: more suspicious
What is bridging the partisan divide?
We have rules, values and beliefs
We use this system when we are unsure of our values.
We also use this system in a non productive way: ex. Bias, lashing out, being defensive etc.
What happens when something attacks our self definition?
It’s not easy to shrug off
When we have difficulties pursuing the self definition we compensate with other symbols to complete the self definition.
(Ex. TA’s are more likely to put Dr in front of their name. Not in as secure position as a teacher)
What is the self completion experiment (business women and self affirmation after a failure)
If told they didn’t do well,
In a follow up experiment, they will dominate the competition to reaffirm self values.
