The social self Flashcards
Describe the concept of the self
Property of conscious, self-reflective organism = knowledge about how we feel, behave etc. both now and in the past
James (1980) argued the self encompasses values and traits
Humans = mirror self-recognition but many animals don’t
It appears social interaction is needed for development of self-concept and social feedback/participation in social roles is important
Discuss self-schemas
Self-knowledge= beliefs about the self = help process self-relevant information
People can be schematic on specific dimensions important to them or aschematic when a dimension is not of particular importance to them
Does evidence suggest self-schemas impact the way people process information about themselves?
When individuals rated themselves on independence/dependence some were schematic on independence, others on dependence and others on both.
Individuals responded faster to traits which fitted their schemas
Discuss social comparison theory
People compare themselves to others = accurate assessment of own beliefs, attitudes and behaviours = objective measure
that can be externally validated
Need to compare ourselves to those who are roughly similar to us but downward social comparison and upwards social comparison can occur = serve different needs in people under threat
Discuss upward social comparison
Comparing the self to people better off
= can be discouraging and costly to self-evaluations = predicting negative mood and lower self-esteem
However, role models and good examples = self-enhancing and boost mood
Discuss downward social comparison
Comparing the self to people worse off = increases subjective wellbeing
Passive through simple comparison or active through harming someone to create opportunity
Self-enhancing = reminding someone they are superior
Self-threatening = alerting someone they could suffer the same fate
Impact of downward comparison depends on perceived vulnerability = if at risk comparison may be more threatening
Discuss whether upward or downward social comparison occurs
People prefer to make upward social comparisons
In threat, downward comparisons can give satisfaction of coping better but individuals often don’t want to affiliate with these people = instead make upward social comparisons to give emotional reassurance they can adjust to the threat
Discuss self-esteem
Subjective appraisal of the self as intrinsically positive or negative = largely about feelings and emotions rather than cognition
Tends to be stable over time
Dispositional/trait self-esteem = stable
State self-esteem = appraisals of self changeable across situations and over time = self-esteem declines from childhood to adolescence then continually rises as adults get older until a decline in old age
Varies among individuals and contingent on success/failure in domains an individual has placed their self-worth in
Discuss sociometer theory
Argues self-esteem is a ‘sociometer’ = an internal monitor of being valued or devalued by others = is subjective
Changes in self-esteem linked to perceptions of inclusion vs. exclusion = motivated to maintain self-esteem means need to connect with others and gain their approval
Threat of rejection and feeling bad = change behaviour = increase social inclusion
Exclusion from the group = re-inclusion where make more of an effort to re-enter
Discuss terror management theory of self-esteem
Greenberg, Solomon & Pyszcynski, 1997
Humans terrified of own death so construct worldviews which preserve self-esteem = allows them to symbolically transcend death
Self-esteem acts as a protective shield against the anxiety of death
Shared assumptions = people give lives meaning and evaluate them as good
Discuss self-presentation
What we present to the outside world
There is a private and a public side to the self
Most extreme view of public self = isn’t real and human social interaction like a theatre
Discuss impression management with regards to self-presentation
People use strategies to get others to view them positively
Expressive self-presentation =less concerned with situational demands = less likely to adjust behaviour according to external factors = people will seek others who agree with and endorse this concept of self
Strategic self-presentation =present self as appropriate to audience.
Motives for strategic:
Self-promotion = seen as competent
Ingratiation = make others like us
Intimidation = present self as threatening
Exemplification = good/ superior with value and morality
Supplication = others see you in need of help
Discuss self-monitoring with regards to self-presentation
Self-monitoring = people observe and control presentation of self to varying degrees
depending on demands of the situation
People an be high or low = self-monitoring scale = impacts whether act consistent with internal traits or define self in terms of social rules they fulfil
Extremes of scale = socially unacceptable behaviour
