Sept 19 Flashcards

1
Q

intimacy

A

the reciprocal, iterative interplay between self and other

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2
Q

self-concept

A

what we know and believe about ourselves

answer to question “who am I?”

our attributes, abilities, values, goals

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3
Q

2 types of components of self-concept

A
  1. descriptive
  2. evaluative: how we feel about our attributes
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4
Q

the looking-glass self

A

Charle Horton Cooley’s idea

develop self-concept THROUGH INTERACTIONS with others

  1. IMAGINE how we appear to others
  2. INTERPRET others’ reactions
  3. DEVELOP & REVISE self-concept based on these perceptions & judgments
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5
Q

active role of the individual in their self-concept

A

even though we look to others to identify who we are, we play an ACTIVE ROLE in our self-concept

not simply passively internalizing interactions with others

ACTIVELY SELECT & INTERPRET perceived judgments & perceptions of others

also attempt to MANAGE others’ perceptions through self-presentation strategies

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6
Q

classroom example of how we actively impact our self concepts

A

“how do my students see me?”

“how are they judging the image they have of me?”

look to and interpret their reactions: are they nodding, smiling, frowning, dozing off, looking bored?

shapes SELF-FEELING (pride, mortification) and SELF-CONCEPT (“I’m funny”, “I’m full”)

pay attention to some reactions and not others

MAY NOT BE ACCURATE in your perceptions

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7
Q

symbolic interactionism

A

overarching thesis: the self is a SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION, developed and maintained via INFERENCES from experiences with others

sense of self is experienced IN RELATION TO SOME AUDIENCE

  • real or imagined
  • specific or generalized

imagining reactions of others may be a conscious or non-conscious process

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8
Q

symbolic interactionism study setup: private beliefs & imagined audiences

A

study with 2 ostensibly unrelated parts

part 1: visualization exercise

  • some were asked to bring to mind image of a close friend and to thin about the last interaction they had with that friend in detail
  • others were asked to do the same, but for an older family member

part 2: asked to help out in a second study

  • read passages and report how enjoyable they were
  • there was a risque piece, 50 shades vibes
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9
Q

symbolic interactionism study results: private beliefs & imagined audiences

A

Ps who had previously thought about FRIENDS reported the passage being MORE ENJOYABLE, PLEASURABLE, EXCITING than Ps who’d thought about older relatives

PRIVATE BELIEFS are tailored for PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE - although we may not be consciously aware of this

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10
Q

self-esteem

A

EVALUATIVE component of self-concept

how GOOD or BAD we feel about ourselves

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11
Q

2 levels of self esteem

A

trait level:
- enduring level of self-regard
- fairly stable

state level:
- dynamic, changing feelings about the self
- vary from moment to moment

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12
Q

sociometer theory

A

postulates self-esteem as a GAUGE that assesses your DEGREE OF ACCEPTANCE by others

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13
Q

evidence for sociometer theory

A
  1. trait self esteem strongly correlates with PERCEPTIONS of ACCEPTANCE
    - directionality?
  2. experimental study of “individual and group decision making”
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14
Q

sociometer theory study: study of individual and group decision making

A
  1. exchange description of yourself with other group members
  2. indicate which group members you want to work with
  3. then hold they had to work alone, either because 1) random assignment or 2) because other group members didn’t choose them (rejection condition)

REJECTED Ps FELT WORSE ABOUT THEMSELVES (inferior, worthless)

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15
Q

valuation of personal attributes

A

INTRApersonal and INTERpersonal views of self-esteem

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16
Q

intrapersonal view of self-esteem

A

PRIVATE self-valuation

ie. ratio’s of one’s successes to one’s failures

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17
Q

interpersonal view of self-esteem

A

believing that one possesses certain attributes should only effect self-esteem to the extent that one considers these attributes to be JUDGED EITHER POSITIVELY or NEGATIVELY by other people

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18
Q

example of interpersonal view of self esteem from pop culture

A

Cady in Mean Girls

she seeks acceptance from the plastics

wants to be judged positively so changes herself

and then seeks acceptance from boy

it doesn’t work

so she goes back to her old self to win him over

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19
Q

study: valuation of personal attributes setup

A

Participants…

1) filled out GLOBAL MEASURE of SELF ESTEEM

2) RATED themselves in 5 domains
ie. phys attractiveness, intelligence, morality

3) indicated how important those domains were for social approval or disapproval

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20
Q

study: valuation of personal attributes results

A

interaction between SELF EVALUATIONS and the PERCEIVED APPROVAL VALUE of the domain

how closely your performance in a given domain is tied to your self-esteem DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH YOU THINK PEOPLE around you VALUE that domain

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21
Q

connection between global self esteem and self-evaluation of attractiveness

A

people who evaluate themselves as unattractive fall in two camps

1) global low self esteem - these people think other’s evaluations of your phys attractiveness is important

2) global higher self esteem - these people don’t think that other’s ideas of your phys attractivness is important

those who place a premium on attractiveness have a steeper slope - tight relationship between self-perceived attractiveness and self esteem

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22
Q

research setting study: valuation of personal attributes setup

A

phase 1:
what research ideas are you thinking about these days?

phase 2:
2 ms exposure to an approving or disapproving established prof (ie. Lydon)

phase 3:
how good is your research idea? how important is it?

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23
Q

research setting study: valuation of personal attributes results

A

when primed with approving face:

thought their idea was great

when primed with disapproving face:

thought their idea was bad

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24
Q

the self is not…

A

an isolated entity

it isn’t entirely separate from others

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25
Q

as we grow closer to a relationship partner…

A

our self-concept expands to incorporate aspects of other

think of pictorial rep of this - self and other circles that start not touching and progress until very overlapping

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26
Q

self-expansion model

A

people are motivated to EXPAND their POTENTIAL EFFICACY

accrue resources, knowledge, perspectives, abilities, identities etc that make it possible to achieve future goals

one means to achieve this is close relationships

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27
Q

how do close relationships allow for self expansion?

A

you can incorporate partner’s identities, perspectives, skills, resources in the self

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28
Q

self expansion and falling in love

A

students provided:

  1. assessments of their sense of self:
    - self-esteem
    - self-efficacy
    - spontaneous self-concept
    every 2 weeks over 10 week period
  2. and which significant life events they’d experienced

those who had fallen in love experienced GREATER INCREASE in self-concept (compared to before falling in love and Ps who didn’t fall in love)

also INCREASE in SELF-EFFICACY and SELF-ESTEEM

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29
Q

those who fell in love experienced…

A
  1. greater increase in self concept
  2. increase in self-efficacy
  3. increase in self-esteem
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30
Q

cognitive confusion of self & other

A

evidence that individuals cognitively “confuse” self & close others

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31
Q

study setup: cognitive confusion of self & other

A

phase 1:

ask “how well does this trait describe…”
a) you
b) partner
c) stranger (media personality)

rated each trait for one type of target only

phase 2:

shown the traits again, once at a time, and asked “which individual did you previously rate on this trait? self, partner or stranger?”

32
Q

study results: cognitive confusion of self & other

A

more source confusion between SELF and CLOSE OTHER (ie. romantic partner, best friend)

not explainable by familiarity or similarity - closeness appears to be the key ingredient

33
Q

self expansion model

A

what aspects of the partner do we include in ourselves/our self concepts?

  1. various kinds of RESOURCES:
    a) knowledge: info and skills
    b) material assets
    c) social assets: family and friends
  2. IDENTITY: their traits become seen as your traits
  3. PERSPECTIVES: seeing world from a different POV
34
Q

self expansion model: what types of resources from the partner come to be included in one’s own self concept?

A

knowledge: info and skills

material assets

social assets: family and friends

35
Q

falling in love as process of rapid self expansion

A

recap: self expansion reps movement towards a desired goal (expanded sense of self and self-efficacy)

movement toward desired goal is associated with POSITIVE AFFECT

VELOCITY with which we approach a desired goal = important predictor of affective experience

self-expansion is VERY RAPID in early stages of relationship - gives rise to sense of EXHILARATION

argue that this is the sensation of “falling in love”

36
Q

what’s the desired goal that self expansion is all about approaching?

A

expanded self efficacy and sense of self

37
Q

velocity and self expansion

A

velocity with which we approach desired goal is an important predictor of affective experience

self expansion is very fast in early stages of relationship - gives rise to sense of exhilaration

38
Q

what is the sensation of falling in love?

A

velocity/very rapid self expansion that occurs at the beginning of a relationship

39
Q

upward spiral of self expansion

A

relationship between SELF EXPANSION and POSITIVE AFFECT may be RECIPROCAL

  1. self expansion fuels positive affect
  2. positive affect, in turn, “broadens” our understanding of the world

fuels curiosity & interest, desire for novelty, increased tendency to approach & engage with the world

40
Q

upward spiral of self expansion: longitudinal roommate relationship study

A

positive affect predicts MORE COMPLEX UNDERSTANDING of roommate and greater perception of self-other overlap

41
Q

does the thrill of self expansion last forever?

A

no, it slows down as we get to know our partner and a sense of routine sets in

can be hard because self expansion is such an important goal and if our relationship no longer meets it, it can lead to dissatisfaction

can feel like relationship is preventing self-expansion

42
Q

slowing down and infidelity

A

rate of self expansion slows over time

in monogamous relationship, may begin to LOOK OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIP if need for self-expansion isn’t being met

potential for future self expansion negatively predicts susceptibility to infidelity

43
Q

in relationship, potential for future self expansion negatively predicts…

A

susceptibility to infidelity

44
Q

self-disclosure

A

sharing personal information about the self

central to development of intimacy

tend to like those who share personal information with us

also tend to like people better after disclosing personal info to them

45
Q

intimus (latin)

A

“that which is innermost”

connection between intimacy and self-disclosure

46
Q

liking and self disclosure

A
  1. tend to like those who share personal info with us
  2. tend to like people better after disclosing personal info to them
47
Q

self-disclosure task in lab setup

A

lab-based task for creating feelings of closeness

reciprocal exchange

3 sets of 12 questions, gradually increasing in intimacy within & across sets

ie. “what’s your most treasured memory?”
ie. “when did you last cry in front of another person?”

48
Q

self-disclosure task in lab results

A

greater feelings of CLOSENESS with partner following disclosure task (relative to small talk control)

doesn’t matter if:
1. dyad was (mis)matched on important attitudes
2. PS expected to like each other
3. getting close was an explicit goal

no difference between all-women and all-men pairs

49
Q

social penetration theory

A

gradually move from exchanging superficial information to more intimate information over time

  1. BREADTH & DEPTH of topics both increase
  2. BREADTH increases more QUICKLY
  3. balance desires for expansion & connection with desire to feel safe (approach and avoidance motives)
50
Q

in social penetration theory, which element increases more quickly?

A

BREADTH of topics discussed increases quicker than depth

51
Q

risks of self-disclosure

A
  1. evaluation (could be judged negatively - excessive disclosure can be seen as immature or needy)
  2. maintenance (could disrupt the relationship)
  3. defense (info could be used against you)
  4. communication problems (could be hard to talk about)
52
Q

risk of self disclosure: evaluation

A

could be judged negatively

excessive disclosure can be seen as immature or needy

53
Q

risk of self disclosure: maintenance

A

could disrupt the relationship

54
Q

risk of self disclosure: defense

A

info could be used against you

55
Q

risk of self disclosure: communication problems

A

could be hard to talk about

56
Q

how do we want our partners to respond once we’ve made ourselves vulnerable?

A

responsively, with reciprocity

57
Q

perceived partner responsiveness

A

degree to which:

  1. you believe that your partner UNDERSTANDS your situation, emotions, needs, opinions
  2. you believe that your partner VALUES, RESPECTS and VALIDATES your self
  3. you believe that your partner ACTS in ways that CARE FOR and support the self

key aspect in development of intimacy

58
Q

intimacy process model

A

views development of intimacy as a transactional process that happens between 2 people

feedback loop, interactions build on each other

A’s disclosure of information/feelings >

B’s emotional & behavioural responses >
(informed by B’s motives, needs, goals, fears)

A’s reactions to B’s response: does A feel understood? validated? cared for?

59
Q

takeaway from intimacy process model

A

intimacy isn’t just about info sharing, it’s also about response from partner to that sharing

60
Q

most basic level of perceived partner responsiveness

A

partner understands your situation, emotions, needs, opinions

61
Q

second level of perceived partner responsiveness

A

partner VALUES, RESPECTS and VALIDATES your self

62
Q

third level of perceived partner responsiveness

A

partner ACTS in ways that CARE FOR and support the self

63
Q

support for intimacy process model

A

event-contingent recording (type of experience sample) studies (1 or 2 wrrks)

provide info immediately after social interaction

perceptions of dating partner’s responsiveness mediated the effect of personal disclosures and the experience of intimacy

disclosure on its own may not be sufficient for development of intimacy

64
Q

the self and relationships: reciprocal influences

A

self isn’t simple result of experiences with others, also plays important role in SHAPING EXPERIENCES

iterative, reciprocal process

choose what part of self-concept to display

65
Q

we choose what part of self-concept to display: how do we want to be seen?

A

driven by:

  1. self-enhancement - want to feel accepted/cared for
  2. self-verification - want to feel understood
66
Q

self-enhancement motive

A

drive to be viewed positively

essentially, wanting to be liked

recall that satisfied partners perceive partners more positively than objectively warranted - turn faults into virtues

67
Q

self-verification motive

A

drive to maintain a coherent self-view

wanting to be known

destabilizing if our view of ourself conflicts with others’ views of ourself

68
Q

self-verification and self-enhancement - tension

A

tension may occur for negative traits

we want to be seen positively, but also want to be seen accurately

69
Q

self-verification and self-enhancement - tension resolution

A

Neff & Karney hierarchy - global perception of partner at top, concrete perceptions at bottom

may value partners that combine “global adoration and specific accuracy”

70
Q

self-verification and self-enhancement - combining global adoration and specific accuracy

A

may prefer ENHANCEMENT on critically IMPORTANT qualities (ie. attractiveness)

but VERIFICATION for LESS CRITICALly important qualities

may also wish for partners to understand how you see yourself without necessarily wanting them to agree

71
Q

is there such a thing as being “too close”?

A

as many as 57% of dating undergrads report feeling too close

describe experience as “suffocating”, “smothering”, “overwhelming”

72
Q

what causes a feeling of being “too close”?

A
  1. real or perceived threat to personal control

(fits with self-expansion model - we seek expansion and if we feel we’re too merged with partner to expand ourselves, might feel our relationship limits opportunities)

constrains one’s ability to expand in domains external to relationship

  1. equally, “over-expansion” may lead to sense of exhaustion
73
Q

autonomy

A

feeling that one’s actions are entirely chosen and not coerced

74
Q

relatedness & autonomy

A

autonomy associated with MORE OPENNESS & GREATER WELLBEING

predicts:

  1. more constructive & less defensive responses to conflict
  2. more satisfaction after conflict
  3. more effective support provision in close relationships
75
Q

in successful relationships, what must be achieved between relatedness and autonomy?

A

balance!