Social Cognition and the Self Flashcards
Social Cognition
Define Social Cognition
How we organise our thoughts to navigate the social world
- how we perceive ourselves and others
Social Cognition
Automatic processes
Uncontrollable or unconscious processes
- Gut reactions
- Knee jerk responses
Tend to be captured via implicit measures
Influenced by priming!
Social Cogniton
Controlled Processes
- Deliberate and intentional behaviors
- Potentially limited
- Goal-dependent
- Requires awareness of behavior
- Often captured by explicit measures - Dependent on motivations
- Self-determination theory
Cues which impact perceptions
How can faces impact social perceptions?
- Gaze and eye contact
- Facial features (gender, race, age)
- Inferred personality traits
- Dominance
- Maturity
- Trustworthiness
- Aggression
Cues which impact perceptions
How can the environment impace social perceptions?
Can dictate appropriate behavior
- Classroom
- Library
- Pub
Can alter others perceptions
- Dangerous situations
- Ambiguous cues
Self-schema
Semantic network model
- Mental links form between concepts
- Common properties provide basis for mental link.
- Shorter path between concepts = stronger association in memory
Self-schema
Spreading activation
- Concept is activated in semantic network, spread in any number of directions, activating other nearby associations in network
- Nearby activated concepts inform behavior
Self-schema
Self-schema
- Cognitive representations of oneself that one uses to organize and process self-relevant information
- Consists of the important behaviors and attributes
Self-schema
Self-reference effect
Easier to remember self-referent words as they are processed through self-schemas
Self-schema
Self-perception theory
- Our own behavior is used as a basis for inference
- Different motivations guide our behaivor
- Intrinsic motivation
- Extrinsic motivation
Self-determination theory
External/Extrinsic motivations
- Behavior that is driven by external rewards
- Rewards are unrelated to behavior i.e. Approval from others, Monetary gain
Externally motivated behaviors are not reflective of the self
May reduce motivation to repeat those behaviors in the future
Self-determination theory
Internal/intrinsic motivations
- Behavior driven by self-interest
- No explicit reward for behavior
- Behavior is rewarding in itself
Internally motivated behaviors more reflective of the self
Associated with increased motivations to repeat the behavior
Self-esteem
Social comparison theory
- Use others to evaluate our own abilities and characteristics
- Think of ourselves in terms of what makes us unique
- Upward versus downward comparisons
Self-discrepancy theory
3 different selves
- Actual self: The person we think we are right now, including the good and bad qualities, group memberships, and other self-concept components
- Ideal self: The person we hope to become. The best version of our
potential. - Ought self: What other people want us to be. Includes cultural, parental,
and romantic partner expectations.
Self-discrepancy theory
Self-Presentation Theory
We adapt ourselves to fit into the situation we are in
We present ourselves a certain way to make an impression on others thorugh impression management and self-monitoring
Self-presentation theory
What is self-control?
Ability to override our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to implement different behaviors which are appropriate for the situation.
Self control is used to balance self expression/actual self with self-presentation/ought or ideal self
Self-control
Strength Model of Self Control - Baumeister, Vohs, and Tice (2007)
- Self-control is dependent on limited resources (e.g., glucose)
- Stress depletes these resources - Self-regulation as a muscle
- Prolonged use of self-control causes “fatigue”
- Resources need replenished before further use
Self-control
What are some issues with the strength model for self control theory?
- Providing motivational incentives eliminates self-control failure (Muraven & Slessareva, 2003)
- Belief of unlimited self-control (willpower) moderates self-control failure (Job, Dweck, & Walton, 2010)
- Teaching participants about self-control failure reduces the effects of self-control failure (Wan & Sternthal, 2008)
Self-control
Process Model for Self Control - Inzlicht et al. (2014)
- Stress shifts motivation away from control and further coping
- Motivation temporarily shifted towards rewarding behavior
- Resources are not depleted after
stress, just redirected
Self-discrepancy theory
Self-Discrepancy Theory
- Self-discrepancy occurs when our selves do not align
- Can lead to mental health problems
- Depression
- Social phobia
- Eating disorders
- Poor self-esteem
Self-esteem
What is self esteem?
- Indicates how you are doing in terms of successes and social acceptance versus failures and social rejection
- Confidence in one’s abilities
- Self-worth or respect
Social Comparison Theory
Upward Social Comparison
When we compare ourselves to someone who is better than us, often to improve on a particular skill
Social Comparison theory
Downward social comparison
When we compare ourselves to someone who is worse than us, often to feel better
Self-esteem
Locus of control
(Internal vs external)
Internal locus of control:
- People can affect what happens to them
- Good and bad experiences are of people’s own making
- Better coping, less anxiety
External locus of control:
- People who believe that what happens to them is outside of their control
- Higher rates of psychological disorders
- Poorer self-esteem
Self-esteem
“Dark side” of boosing self-esteem
Inflating self-esteem may lead to:
- Narcissism
- False confidence
- Lack of empathy
- Academic problems
- And more!
