The Self Lecture

Question 1

Self Concept

Answer 1

• The “me”
• set of beliefs / knowledges about onself
• Ex. Young children talk a lot about physical characteristics, as you grow older you will include social roles- The “me”
• Set of beliefs / knowledges about onself
• Ex. Young children talk a lot about physical characteristics, as you grow older you will include social roles

Question 2

Working Self Concept

Answer 2

-Aspects of yourself that get activated in different circumstances
Ex. I am a mother sometimes, other times I am a painter

Question 3

Introspection

Answer 3

• Examining your own mental and emotional processes

- Trying to understand your own feelings

Question 4

Looking Glass Self

Answer 4

• Reflected Appraisal

- How you describe yourself vs what your roommate would say about you

Question 5

Relevant Targets/ Social Comparisons

Answer 5

• Comparing with someone similar background, age or gender to you
• Downward Comparison: with someone who is “worse” than you
• Upward Comparison: with someone who is “better” than you

Question 6

Observation/self-perception

Answer 6

-Changing behavior can over time change the self

Ex. Starting to recycle, might even change how they view themselves. “I care about the environment a lot now

Question 7

Cultural Differences

Answer 7

• Collectivist/ Interdependent: emphasis on group, strive to fit in. May experience more self-awareness.

Individual/Independent: striving to “stand out”

Question 8

Self-Awareness

Answer 8

• Aware of inner values. Your personal attitudes, beliefs and current mood (private awareness)
• Aware of others judgements. How you behave in public settings (Public self awareness)

Question 9

Functions of the Self (3 things ) OEE

Answer 9

Organizational
-Self schemas
-Information that we remember from an event. Might be completely different from someone else that was there
Executive Controlling:
-Delaying instant gratification
Ex. Marshmellow study with the kids
-Relevant to life: not buying fast food, dieting, quitting smoking
Emotional:
-Self Esteem
-Attitudes towards ourself/ self evaluation

Question 10

Self-Esteem

Answer 10

Evaluation (positive or negative) that one makes about oneself
An attitude

Question 11

What is self-esteem effected by? 4 things

Answer 11

Self-Discrepancy:
-List traits of who you are, the person you ought to be and then traits you hope/ wish for yourself
Private Audiences:
-Someone who you think judges you
-Ex. Note enjoying the nude film because you’re watching it with your grandmother.
Temporal Comparisons:
-Comparing yourself to a past you
-Sometimes exaggerating that
-“I used to be thinner”
Social Identity:
-People are motivated to maintain high level of self esteem
-When social esteem is threatened we engage in in group- to maintain positive social identity

Question 12

Biases in Self View (4 things )

Answer 12

Self-serving:
-Seeing yourself as more positive than others
Illusion of superiority:
-Inability to recognize your own incompetence
Unrealistic Optimism:
-Planning fallacy
-Predicting how long it will take you to finish an assignment, only bias about yourself not others.
-Same with budget fallacy
Perceived Control:
-Gambling