lesson 1 - me, myself and I

Question 1

What are the 3 types of self (Brewer and Gardner 1996)

Answer 1

individual - personal traits that distinguish you from others (e.g., funny, kind)
relational - dyadic relationships that assimilate you to others (friend, mother)
collective - group memberships (academic, female, university student)

Question 2

what is self-awareness?

Answer 2

Self-awareness is a psychological state – can be considered a trait if you’re self-aware a lot of the time. It’s the realisation of being individual. It is a ‘fundamental part of human being’ which sets us apart from animals. It is not innate.

Question 3

How can self-awareness be tested?

Answer 3

Mirror test is used to examine if infants or animals have self-awareness. Thought to develop around the age of 1 ½-2 years old. Put child in front of the mirror, let them see themselves in the mirror, take them away from the mirror, touch their face and put a bright mark on the child, then show them to the mirror again, self-awareness is when they touch themselves realising that they are the person in the mirror. It has also been used a lot on animals – some animals passed the test, dolphins pass, chimps pass, but most animals don’t.

Question 4

what are the 2 types of self?

Answer 4

private self - act according to our thoughts, feelings, attitudes, internalised standards.
public self - social image, can be seen and evaluated by others, evaluation apprehension, enjoy success, admiration, adhere to social standards of behaviour, may be more nervous/uncomfortable.

Question 5

Consequences of chronic self-awareness?

Answer 5

• highly stressful, constantly aware of shortcomings.
• avoidance behaviours: drinking, drugs, self-harm

Question 6

Consequences of reduced self awareness

Answer 6

• deindividuation (e.g., part of a group/crowd, loss of awareness when drunk)
• no monitoring of own behaviour (impulsive, reckless)

Question 7

what is mindfulness?

Answer 7

“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally” (Kabat-Zinn, 1991)
- incorporates self-awareness
- includes acceptance, not being reactive

• the state of being conscious and aware of something

Question 8

consequences of being chronically aware of the private self?

Answer 8

• more intense emotion
• accurate self perception
• adhere to personal beliefs
• less stress (attending and dealing with internal state) h/e this can lead to depression and neuroticism)

Question 9

consequences of being chronically aware of the public self?

Answer 9

• focus on perception by others
• nervousness
• loss of self-esteem
• adhere to group norms (to avoid embarrassment)
• concern with physical appearance (of self and others)

Question 10

what is self knowledge and how is it stored?

Answer 10

We store self-knowledge in the form of schemas. Person schemas – stereotype, image of ourselves to make sense of the world and to predict what will happen. How we and others will act in certain situations.

Question 11

benefit of self-awareness

Answer 11

allows us to access information

Question 12

self schemas

Answer 12

how we act, think, behave, feel

Question 13

self schematic

Answer 13

important part of a self concept (e.g., if someone criticised my academic abilities I would deeply care vs if someone criticised my singing, I would not care)

Question 14

Aschematic

Answer 14

opposite of self schematic, something that is not important to me, e.g., if someone criticsed my singing I would not care

Question 15

How do self-schemas develop? (6)

Answer 15

• Control theory of self regulation (Carver and Scheier)
• Self-discrepancy theory
• Social comparison theory (Festinger)
• Self evaluation maintenance (Tesser et al)
• Social identity theory (Tajfel and Turner)
• Self categorisation theoy (Turner)

Question 16

Control theory of self-regulation theory for schema development

Answer 16

-Carver and Scheier
-self-awareness: whether goals met
-Test – operate to change – text – exit.
-Private / public standard (may want to appear average in public but privately want to be in the top 5%)
-Need a clear idea, much more likely to get there

Question 17

self-discrepancy theory for schema development

Answer 17

-Actual (present), ideal (like to be), ought (should be) – relates to private and public standards.
-Motivate change and if fail, actual – ideal (dejection, disappointment), actual – ought (agitation, anxiety)
-Higgins emphasises the process – discrepancy between actual and ought self generates emotions. If there is a discrepancy, more personal emotional response. Whereas a discrepancy between an actual and ought self leads to public response.

Question 18

social comparison theory for schema development

Answer 18

-Festinger
-Objective bench marker in similar people
-For performance generally downward comparison (e.g., ask someone who is academically inferior if they understand the content of the previous lecture. H/e upward comparison in some situations e.g., older/younger sibling relationship.

Question 19

self evaluation maintenance explanation for schema development

Answer 19

Upward social comparisons
Tesser et al 1988
* Exaggerate target’s ability.
* Change target.
* Distance self from target
* Devaluate comparison dimension.
- Social comparison – medallist example (satisfaction of silver vs bronze medallist)

Question 20

social identity theory as an explanation for schema development

Answer 20

-Tajfel and Turner 1979
-Personal identity: unique personal attributes, relationships and traits
-Social identity: defines self by group membership associated with inter-group behaviour/group norms

Question 21

self categorisation theory as an explanation for schema development

Answer 21

-Turner 1987
-An extension of social identity theory
-Social cognitive process
-Self-categorisation to groups – internalise group attributes, collective self, social identity
-Meta-contrast principle (differences, similarities – in group and out group)
-BIRGing – ‘basking in reflected glory’, e.g., when Andy Murray was winning tennis he was labelled English but when he was losing he was called Scottish.
-If group categorisation too salient, perception of self and others become depersonalised. Treating other groups badly.

Question 22

self assessment

Answer 22

desire for accurate and valid information
seek out the truth about self

Question 23

self verification

Answer 23

desire to confirm what they know
seek out consistency about the self

Question 24

self enhancement

Answer 24

desire to maintain a good image
seek favourable information about the self
–> links to self affirmation theory - affirm positive aspects (boasting)
- self serving attribution bias

Question 25

cultural differences

Answer 25

individualistic vs collectivist cultures
different expectations and views of the self/what should be valued.

Question 26

individualist cultures

Answer 26

*Independent self
*Autonomous, separate from context.
*Focus on internal traits, feelings, thoughts, abilities.
*Unitary and stable across situations
*Acting true to internal beliefs and feelings, promoting own goals and differences from others.
*Example: Italy – areas associated with being more individualistic were insulted e.g., ‘swine’ ‘i wish you had cancer’ ‘you are incredibly ugly’

Question 27

Collectivist cultures

Answer 27

• Connected with others and embedded in social context.
• Represented in terms of roles and relationships.
• Fluid and variable self-changing across situations.
• Belonging, fitting, in and acting appropriately, promoting group goals and harmony
• insults to collectivist cultures were targeted at the group, e.g., ‘your mother is a whore’, ‘$%^*! you and your dead relatives’