The Self Flashcards
What is the ontological self?
The somewhat mysterious inner self of thinking, observation and experience
This refers to the ‘I’ aspect of the self.
What is the epistemological self?
Knowledge of one’s own personality traits, experiences and other attributes
This refers to the ‘me’ aspect of the self.
What are the 4 jobs of the self?
- Self regulation
- Information processing filter
- Relating to others
- Identity
These jobs highlight the psychological nature of the self.
Define self-esteem.
The affective evaluation of oneself
Self-esteem can influence various life factors.
What does the self-esteem movement advocate?
- using affirmations to try and increase self esteem
- However, Self-esteem needs to be earned by the individual through legit accomplishments, It can’t be forced
This movement aims to help individuals feel better about themselves.
What is Sociometer theory?
Argues that self-esteem is a gauge for how you are valued and socially accepted by others
This theory is rooted in our evolutionary history as a social species.
True or False: Higher self-esteem can make people more reactive.
True
This can lead to unstable self-esteem and potentially narcissism.
What are the three historical stages of gender differences in self-esteem?
- Traditional sex discrimination is widespread
- Society modernizes and gender barriers are reduced
- People see disadvantages as societal rather than personal
These stages show the evolution of self-esteem between genders.
What is self-serving bias?
The tendency to interpret events in a way that assigns credit for success to oneself but denies responsibility for failure
This bias often leads to blaming external factors for personal failures.
Define self-efficacy.
One’s belief about the degree to which they will be able to accomplish a goal if they tried
High self-efficacy can predict success in relevant activities.
What is a self schema?
The cognitive structure hypothesized to contain a person’s self-knowledge and to direct self-relevant thought
It shapes how we perceive the world.
What does self-complexity refer to?
The number of separate, unrelated aspects of the self concept or schema
Higher self-complexity allows for better emotional compartmentalization.
What is self-discrepancy theory?
An inconsistency between different aspects of a person’s self concept, particularly between one’s actual self and their ideal or ought self
The ideal self is based on reward, while the ought self is based on punishment.
What is self verification?
The desire to seek information about yourself that confirms your chronic self-views, regardless of whether this information is good or bad
It may be stronger than self-enhancement motives.
What is the procedural self?
Patterns of behaviour that are characteristic of a person, learned by doing or observing
This relates to how individuals internalize behaviors.
How can one change procedural knowledge?
Through doing, practice, and feedback
Reading or willpower alone is usually ineffective.
What is the Sociometer theory rooted in
evolutionary history as a social species and attachment theory
True or False: attempts to boosting self esteem can have a reverse effect by only keeping negative aspects of yourself in mind
True
What can have reverse effects on someone with low self esteem? Why
affirmations can make it worse because they need to be rooted in actual things the person can do/thinks they can do
True or False: Narcissism is better than having low self esteem
False
What are two kinds of defences that are elicited when self esteem is threatened
distancing or disorting perceptions
When does self esteem maintenance and enhancement occur
When an event is attributable to a person whether good or bad
In regards to self esteem maintenance what does a person do in regards to a positive event
they internalize it and attribute it to them
In regards to self esteem maintenance what does a person do in regards to a negative event
try to distance themselves from it or distort it so it doesnt feel like what happened was their fault
What is the strategy of creating obstacles to your performance so that future anticipated failure can be blamed on the obstacle rather than the lack of ability
self handicapping
What does low self complexity cause
it can make a person more sensitive to threats by acting more extremely to events relating to themselves
What does high self complexity cause
lets you compartmentalize threats to dampen the emotional reaction
self reflection and introspection can lead to ______
high self complexity
What is the Ideal self based on
reward
what is the ought self based on
punishment
What can influence the procedural self
past experiences, rooted to attachment theory
What is the implicit self
unconscious but powerful influences on behaviour, includes thoughts and feelings
What does implicit self include
implicit self esteem and how you conduct yourself in terms of your self worth
